T02 11 2013 by Sahir Vayappat

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HARRISON FORD IS BACK TO STAR WARS THEME More than 30 years after Star Wars, Harrison Ford has returned to interstellar space battles in big-budget sci-ﬁ spectacular Ender’s Game. >A10

SATURDAY, November 2, 2013 / 28 DHUL HIJJA 1434 AH

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‘JET SET GO’ IS TIMES QUIZ WINNER Team ‘Jet Set Go’ comprising Dr Sunil Malani, Dr Joel Cutinho and Shreyans Singhvi won hands down at the 17th edition of Times of Oman Open Quiz Contest held at the City Amphitheatre in Qurum yesterday. Eight teams competed for the title in the event. The winning team is seen here with Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali, Chairman of Muscat Press & Publishing House (MPPH) and Editor-in-Chief of Times of Oman, quizmaster Giri ‘Pickbrain’ Balasubramaniam and Aziz Baker, manager, advertising department, MPPH. -Shabin E, A. R. Rajkumar/Times of Oman See also >A2

Israel bombs Syria; rivals help sought in peace talks The reported Israeli air strike on a military

If the Syrian opposition does not participate there will be no Geneva conference

base in the Assad regime’s stronghold of Latakia was aimed at halting shipment of Russian-made missiles to Hezbollah

BEIRUT: Israel has reportedly bombed a Syrian base to halt shipment of Russian-made missiles to Hezbollah, while UNArab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said yesterday there could be no peace talks without the opposition. The reported air strike on a military base in the regime stronghold Latakia on Wednesday would be the ﬁrst Israeli strike on Syria since a US-Russian accord on chemical weapons averted punitive US military action last month. Ambulance sirens were heard rushing to the scene. However, the activist, who calls himself Khaled, said there was a “total media blackout” about the incident. Israel did not comment on the reports that emerged on Thursday, but it has struck Syria in the past and warned it will continue to take action to prevent sophisticated weapons from falling into the hands of Hezbollah — a key Damascus ally — and other militant groups. Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television said Israel had targeted a

Lakhdar Brahimi

break,” OPCW spokesman Christian Chartier said on Thursday. The OPCW also said Syria’s chemical arms production equipment had been destroyed. Russia believes most of Syria’s chemical arsenal should be removed from the country rather than destroyed there, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying yesterday. Ryabkov spoke after meeting Sigrid Kaag, head of the joint United Nations-OPCW mission to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons. “Much speaks in favour of the overwhelming portion of poisonous substances in Syria being removed beyond its borders, staterun news agency RIA quoted Ryabkov as saying. He did not explain the reasons for that view.

Sukanto, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia With a lot of similarities coupled with internal stability and robust economic performances, Indonesia and Oman, together with the world community, can play a signiﬁcant role in creating a peaceful and prosperous world. Read the column on Sunday

UN-Arab League envoy

shipment of surface-to-surface missiles destined for Hezbollah, the Lebanese movement ﬁghting alongside the regime. A US official conﬁrmed that “there was an Israeli strike” but gave no details on the location or the target. Syria, which has cooperated with international disarmament efforts, has vowed to retaliate against any attack but did not respond when Israel carried out two air strikes in May. Hoping to build on the momentum of last month’s US-Russian accord to destroy Syria’s chemical arsenal by mid-2014, Brahimi has meanwhile been criss-crossing the region to rally support for the so-called Geneva II talks. But Syria’s opposition has refused to attend unless President Bashar Al Assad’s resignation is on the table — a demand rejected by Damascus — and powerful rebel groups have warned that

participants would be considered traitors. “If the opposition does not participate there will be no Geneva conference,” Brahimi told reporters in Damascus before travelling to Beirut. Brahimi has previously said he thought Assad would not be part of the transitional government that Geneva II would attempt to install. But he said his opinions on the matter had no bearing on parameters for the conference. No preconditions “My opinion isn’t important. There is an agreement that attendance at Geneva II will not be based on any preconditions from any side,” he said. “The two sides when they sit down at the table ... will discuss how we can move from this choking, murderous crisis that the Syrian people are facing, how we can transition from this situation into

building a new Syrian republic.” The main opposition National Coalition plans to meet November 9 to decide whether to attend the Geneva talks, but key bloc member Syrian National Council threatened to quit if it does so. The Coalition ﬂayed Assad for its “lack of courage to respond” to the reported Israeli strikes. “The Assad regime has managed to transform the army into a tool that kills the people rather than protecting them, and that turns a blind eye against the (Israeli) enemy’s attacks,” it said. ‘Tamper proof’ seals The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said all of Syria’s chemical arms were under “tamper proof” seals. Some 1,000 tonnes of chemical agents and 290 tonnes of chemical weapons “have been placed under seals that are impossible to

Town recaptured Syria’s armed forces said they had captured a strategic northern town at the eastern gates of Aleppo, the former commercial hub long the scene of fierce fighting between government and rebel fighters. The town of Safira lies on a road the army said would be used to send in medicine and supplies to government-controlled areas of Aleppo, mired in a bloody stalemate for over a year. It is also the site of a chemical weapons installation under government control and cleared of equipment. The capture of Safira is significant in that it marks a rare victory for Assad’s forces near the mostly rebel-held north. “Our heroic armed forces gained full control over the town of Safira after a series of strategic operations... The new success for our armed forces is due to its strategic importance at the eastern gates of Aleppo,” a Syrian army spokesman said. -Agencies

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

‘Pvt sector must create 200m jobs’

The private sector must rise to the challenge of creating 200 million jobs in the Arab world over the next 20 years to reduce unemployment, Badr Jafar, chief executive officer of Crescent Enterprises and managing director of the UAE’s Crescent Group, told delegates at the Owner’s Forum 2013 in Muscat. >A3

REGION

Kerry to visit Egypt ahead of Mursi trial

US Secretary of State John Kerry will visit Egypt a day before former president Mohamed Mursi goes on trial, the next likely ﬂashpoint in the struggle between Muslim Brotherhood and the army-backed interim government. In Alexandria, seven people were hurt as Mursi supporters and opponents clashed. >A4

M O S T WA N T E D M A N

Pakistani Taleban chief killed ISLAMABAD: The head of the Pakistani Taleban was killed by a US drone strike in Pakistan yesterday, several security sources said. It is the latest in a series of blows to the country’s most feared militant group. Hakimullah Mehsud, believed to be in his mid-30s, was one of Pakistan’s most wanted men. He has been reported dead several times before. The Pakistani Taleban conﬁrmed that their leader, Hakimullah Mehsud, had been killed in a drone strike in North Waziristan, according to senior Pakistani intelligence sources. “Hakimullah Mehsud’s funeral is scheduled for 3pm (today) in Miranshah,” an intelligence source said, referring to the main regional city.

ENVOYSPEAK:

lah Mehsud was killed in the drone strike,” said one senior security official. Mehsud took over the Pakistani Taleban in August 2009 after a drone strike killed the previous leader, his mentor and clansman Baitullah Mehsud. Four security officials conﬁrmed his death. His bodyguard and driver were also among the dead, they said. Hakimullah Mehsud.

Several intelligence, army and militant sources across Pakistan also conﬁrmed he had been killed in the drone strike in North Waziristan region. “We can conﬁrm Hakimul-

25 killed “Among the dead, who are in large numbers, are Hakimullah’s personal bodyguard Tariq Mehsud and his driver Abdullah Mehsud, two of his closest people,” said one intelligence source, adding at least 25 people were killed in the strike. -Reuters See also >A7

WORLD

Two injured in LA airport shooting

3 Gold curb hits bullion in India

At least two people were injured yesterday in a shooting incident at Los Angeles’ international airport, parts of which were evacuated as police swarmed into the area, officials and reports said. But police said there was “no mass casualty incident” at the airport. >A10

S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 3

OMAN

BATTLE OF

BRAINS The 17th edition of Times of Oman Open Quiz Contest at the City Amphitheatre in Qurum yesterday saw eight teams competing for glory, with quizmaster Giri ‘Pickbrain’ Balasubramaniam tickling the grey cells of the contestants with his amazing question sets. Amidst a carnival-like atmosphere and an enthusiastic audience enjoying every moment of the knowledge event, teams ISM Quizzing Pad (Pranav Vijayakumar, Anish Rao and Dhruv Warrior), Reunited (Chaitanya Khimji, Vinay Ashar and Ajit Limaye), Questionable Characters (Rohini Dinesh, Udayan Gupta and Sushmita Gupta), Quizaholics Anonymous (Midhun Mukund, Hala Jamal and Anush Iyer), 3 Amigos (Armstrong Jeyakumar, Sangeetha Sridhar and Rajan Philips), Know Brainers (R S Sumanth, Raji Sumanth and Sujatha Ashok), Jet Set Go (Dr Sunil Malani, Dr Joel Cutinho and Shreyans Singhvi), and Natural Born Quizzers (Murali Ramaswamy, K Narayan and Abhishek Murali) fought hard for the top slot. Jet Set Go went on to lift the trophy. The teams Know Brainers and Quizaholics Anonymous emerged as the ﬁrst and second runnersup. The full report of the event and more photographs will be published in Sunday’s edition of Times of Oman.

S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 , 2 01 3

OMAN ‘Pvt sector must create 200m jobs in Arab world’

C U LT U R A L S H O W

ISM hosts Jhankaar Spectrum Times News Service MUSCAT: The Indian School Muscat (ISM) hosted Jhankaar Spectrum, the largest art and cultural competition organised by any school in the Middle East, on October 26, 2013, in the school. Over 1,350 students from 17 Indian schools, including Khasab and Salalah, matched their talents

in 24 events at 14 different venues. The inaugural function began with the ceremonial reception of the dignitaries. J.S. Mukul, the Indian Ambassador to Oman, was the chief guest on the occasion. Also in attendance were Tonny G. Alexander, chairman, board of directors, Indian schools in Oman; Mathew Abraham, educational adviser to the board of

directors; and Col. Shridhar Chitale, acting president of the school managing committee. The members of the board of directors of Indian schools in Oman, members of the Indian School Muscat managing committee, principals of Indian schools, invitees, parents, and a large number of students also attended the function.

Currently, the unemployment rate among youth stands at 30% in the region

Times News Service MUSCAT: The private sector must rise to the challenge of creating 200 million jobs in the Arab world over the next two decades to reduce unemployment in the region, Badr Jafar, chief executive officer of Crescent Enterprises and managing director of the UAE’s Crescent Group, told delegates in a keynote speech at the Owner’s Forum Middle East 2013 in Muscat. Other family business owners and public leaders speaking at the world’s leading family business-

DISMAL SCENARIO: With the alarming number of young people

lacking meaningful jobs, the Arab world faces the real risk of losing an entire generation to unemployment.

focused conference included Khalil Al Khonji, chairman of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Sayyid Badr Al Busaidi, secretary general of the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Abdulla Al Zamil, CEO of Zamil Industrial Investment in Saudi Arabia. During the forum’s opening keynote address, Badr Jafar noted that youth unemployment in the

Middle East currently stands at nearly 30 per cent, and to stop this rate from increasing further the region will need to create over 98 million jobs in the next 10 years, according to World Bank estimates. “With the alarming number of young people lacking meaningful jobs, the Arab world faces the real risk of losing an entire generation to unemployment,” commented Jafar.

H E A LT H T H E P R I O R I T Y

WHO meet passes resolutions STAFF REPORTER MUSCAT: The 60th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean ended in Muscat after considering several resolutions proposedtoaddresspriorityregional health issues. One of the resolutions addresses the escalation of the polio emergency in the region, declaring that the spread of the

polio virus is an emergency facing all member states. It called on Pakistan to take steps to ensure all children are vaccinated to prevent further international spread of the virus, and requested the Syrian Arab Republic and adjoining countries to coordinate intensiﬁed mass vaccinations to end this outbreak within six months. Another resolution addresses universal health coverage, as the

Regional Committee calls on member states to ensure political commitment to universal health coverage in order to ensure that all people have access to health services. The Regional Committee also endorsed the Dubai Declaration: Saving the Lives of Mothers and Children: Rising to the Challenge. Committee Members urged countries to commit their resources to funding programmes to assist mothers and children.

B o a rd o f D i re c to r s ’ Re p o rt Dear Shareholders, Our focus in the third quarter has been to continue our efforts at enhancing the overall banking experience enjoyed by our customers. This is being achieved by an ongoing series of training programmes for our staff that prioritises the importance of delivering superior and exceptional service to our customers who are, after all, at the very heart of everything we do. In addition we have continued making progress with our digital banking platforms that streamline our processes for greater efficiency which, combined with our attention to customer service, has helped to drive our business performance. On behalf of the Board of Directors, it gives me great pleasure to present you with your bank’s third quarter 2013 financial results. Performance Summary As per the International Financial Reporting Standards 3 (‘IFRS 3’) ‘Business Combinations’ requirements, the year to date Profit and Loss (P&L) for HBON represents nine months of HBON’s results in 2013 against a combination of nine months of the HSBC Bank Middle East branches in Oman and four months (June to September) of Oman International Bank for the previous year from the date of the merger. Our year to date performance shows a 20.6% increase in net profit to reach RO12.7m compared to RO10.6m for the same period in 2012. Net interest income (‘NII’) increased by 34.8% for the period ended 30 September 2013 to reach RO36.0m, up from RO26.7m for the same period last year. Net fee and other income increased by 20.3% to RO10.2m compared to RO8.5m in 2012. Net trading income stood at RO5.7m, representing a 10.7% decrease in comparison to RO6.4m for the same period last year. A net recovery of RO3.8m has been reported within Loan Impairment Charges for the period against a net charge of RO2.3m in the same period last year. This is due to a recovery of RO2.1m from corporate clients and a general provision release of RO1.7m due to a reduction in corporate loans and advances. As expected, operating expense rose to RO40.5m reflecting the higher costs of running the merged bank. Loans and advances net of provisions and reserved interest as at 30 September 2013 decreased by 17.0% to reach RO1,016.2m. Customer deposits increased by 2.8% to RO1,927.8m compared to RO1,875.1m as at 30 September 2012. This reflects the repositioning of the bank’s balance sheet for future growth. HBON’s Capital Adequacy ratio stood at 19.0% as at Q3 2013 compared to 15.8% in Q3 2012, representing a strong capital base. Delivering on our vision In the 2013 second quarter, HBON introduced the HSBC Secure Key to provide greater online protection for our customers. During the third quarter, we have made further progress, enabling our customers to enjoy our mobile banking application’s enhanced security features and to send remittances to customers locally and around the world. Other digital banking developments are currently underway, which will make the way customers interact with us and utilise our services easier and more convenient. These enhancements will position your bank as the leading bank in Oman in terms of our digital proposition. In addition, we’ve completed the first phase of our branch restructure. This is allowing us to deploy our resources more efficiently and will help us to deliver services and processes that are more effective and customer focused. As part of our commitment to Commercial Banking and drawing on our global strengths and local expertise, in September 2013, HSBC advised on the IPO for SembCorp Salalah Power & Water Company, at RO52 million, the largest share offering in the Sultanate this year, as well as one of the largest transactions in the Middle East. The deal was 8.3 times oversubscribed and HBON acted as issue manager for the offering. Our operations in Pakistan Prior to the merger, a decision was taken by the former OIB Board of Directors and approved by the OIB shareholders at the Extraordinary General Meeting in May 2012 to dispose of all of the bank’s branches and business in Pakistan, subject to regulatory approvals in both Oman and Pakistan. As a result, with the agreement of the State Bank of Pakistan, HBON will close two Oman International Bank (OIB) branches in Pakistan on 1 November and 8 November 2013. Customers in these branches have been informed of the decision and are being transitioned to their chosen alternative financial services provider. For the present, we will continue to operate one branch in Karachi. Investing in our people and driving the national agenda In August, building on the plan developed to meet the Central Bank of Oman’s directives on Omanisation and to attract and develop Omani talent, HBON launched the two-year graduate programme aimed at fostering leadership development and personal growth. Twelve Omani graduates are being selected through assessment centres and the chosen individuals will join the HBON team to participate in a wide-ranging development programme, including overseas attachments. We remain focused on identifying and developing existing Omani talent and are building succession plans backed up with leadership and career development programmes. In the quarter, HBON announced the appointment of three new senior executives in key strategic business areas. Saud Said Al Shidhani joined the Bank as Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Abdul Qadir Ahmed Al Sumali as Deputy General Manager, Retail Banking & Wealth Management, and Sulaiman Said Al Lamki as Deputy Chief Risk Officer. These experienced Omani bankers bring extensive local knowledge and banking experience to HBON. HBON employees participated in the HSBC Group bi-annual staff survey and recorded one of the highest participation rates and a high level of engagement compared to our peers and external best-in-class benchmarks, strong indicators of an engaged workforce, and we will continue to improve employee engagement throughout HBON. We remain committed to our vision of becoming the leading bank in Oman, driven by our values: being open, connected and dependable in everything we do, and embedding our global standards in our day-to-day business activities. We have made good progress on our strategic priorities and expect this positive momentum to continue. Conclusion On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank all our customers, staff and management for their steadfast commitment and dedication. Special thanks also go to the Central Bank of Oman and the Capital Market Authority for their continued support and guidance. I wish to express our deepest appreciation to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said for the peace, stability and growth that his wise leadership continues to bring to Oman and its people. We offer our full support as he continues to lead the Sultanate to further prosperity and development.

Unaudited interim condensed statement of comprehensive income for the nine months period ended 30 September 2013 Quarter ended 30 Sep 2013 RO’ 000 Interest income Interest expense Net interest income Net fee income Net trading income Dividend income Other operating income Net operating income before loan impairment charges and other credit risk provisions

Quarter Nine months Nine months ended ended ended 30 Sep 30 Sep 30 Sep 2013 2012 2012 RO’ 000 RO’ 000 RO’ 000

14,614 (1,752) 12,862

16,726 (3,428) 13,298

43,505 (7,516) 35,989

32,972 (6,283) 26,689

2,782 1,800 1,291

2,578 2,941 8 387

8,706 5,711 164 1,342

6,676 6,395 11 1,799

18,735

19,212

51,912

41,570

Unaudited interim condensed statement of ﬁnancial position as at 30 September 2013

At 30 Sep 2013

At 30 Sep 2012

RO’000

Audited At 31 Dec 2012 RO’000

Cash and balances with central banks

141,438

171,957

120,540

Due from banks

238,059

202,933

183,858

1,016,191

1,224,720

1,194,443

Assets

Loans and advances to customers - net

846,669

563,884

680,672

Other assets

66,161

114,786

188,577

Intangible assets

12,950

15,235

14,664

Property and equipment

31,373

33,385

30,062

2,352,841

2,326,900

2,412,816

Financial investments

Total assets Liabilities and equity Liabilities

Loan impairment (charges) and other credit risk provisions - net of recoveries Net operating income

Due to banks 670

(1,412)

3,824

(2,294)

19,405

17,800

55,736

39,276

Deposits from customers

Proﬁt before tax Tax expense Proﬁt for the period

(14,527)

(13,065)

(38,805)

(571)

(572)

(1,714)

(762)

(15,098)

(13,637)

(40,519)

(26,750)

4,307 (839) 3,468

4,163 (841) 3,322

15,217 (2,470) 12,747

12,526 (1,961) 10,565

46,170 1,851,567

85,423

126,859

220,942

2,028,873

2,118,679

Share capital

200,031

Legal reserve

32,673

32,093

32,673

Statutory reserve

1,467

1,299

1,236

Available-for-sale fair value reserve

4,862

106

1,635

68,437

64,498

58,562

307,470

298,027

294,137

Total equity and liabilities

2,352,841

2,326,900

2,412,816

Net assets per share - RO

0.154

0.209

0.147

(25,988) Equity

Retained proﬁts Total equity

Other comprehensive income/(expense) Items that will be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss when specific conditions are met – Fair value gains on available-for-sale investments – Income tax on fair value gain on available-for-sale investments – Effect of currency translation

26,885 1,875,129

2,045,371

Other liabilities Total liabilities

Operating expenses Amortisation and impairment of intangible assets Total operating expenses

32,135 1,927,813

Off-balance sheet items: 790

(9)

3,529

405

Contingent liabilities and commitments - Documentary credits - Guarantees

(79)

(303)

(49)

(162)

524

(640)

497

549

516

2,586

853

Total comprehensive income for the period

4,017

3,838

15,333

11,418

Earnings per share - basic

0.007

0.008

0.010

David Eldon Chairman

Issued by HSBC Bank Oman S.A.O.G., P.O. Box 1727, PC 111, Al Khuwair, Sultanate of Oman. © Copyright. HSBC Bank Oman S.A.O.G 2013 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, on any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of HSBC Bank Oman S.A.O.G.

- Others

90,225

169,639

86,782

278,361

369,905

334,677

1,034,315

1,387,624

1,114,228

1,402,901

1,927,168

1,535,687

S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 3

REGION BALANCING ACT

Kerry to visit tense Egypt ahead of Mursi trial CAIRO: US Secretary of State John Kerry will visit Egypt a day before deposed President Mohammed Mursi goes on trial, the next likely ﬂashpoint in the struggle between his Muslim Brotherhood and the army-backed interim government. Several hundred supporters protested in a few cities yesterday, responding to a call from a pro-Mursi alliance for daily protests until the ousted president stands trial on Monday. In Alexandria, seven people were wounded after residents clashed with Mursi supporters before security forces intervened, a security official said. Thirteen were arrested.

Fighting also erupted in the Gisr Al Suez district of Cairo. Ties between Washington and strategic ally Cairo have deteriorated since the overthrow of Mursi, Egypt’s ﬁrst democratically elected president. Mass uprising The state news agency said Kerry’s visit to Egypt, the ﬁrst since Mursi’s fall, would only last several hours. A mass uprising which toppled authoritarian ruler Hosni Mubarak, a longtime US ally, in February 2011 had raised hopes that military men would no longer dominate Egypt. But the man who removed Mursi, army chief General Ab-

del Fattah Al Sisi, has become a wildly popular ﬁgure and many Egyptians have turned against the Brotherhood and anyone perceived as its supporter, including the United States. State-run newspapers often carry conspiracy theories which suggest Washington backed the Brotherhood to ensure US domination of Egypt and the rest of the Middle East. One even reported that President Barack Obama is a Brotherhood member. Those dynamics could make it difficult for Washington to lobby successfully for democracy in Egypt. In a sign of the tension, the United States said on October 9 it would withhold deliveries of

tanks, ﬁghter aircraft, helicopters and missiles, as well as $260 million in cash aid to Egypt, pending progress on democracy and human rights. Mursi’s removal has posed a dilemma for Obama in dealing with a longstanding strategic ally. He wants to maintain ties with the most populous Arab country, which has a peace treaty with Israel and controls the Suez Canal waterway linking Europe and Asia. But he does not want to be seen as acquiescing in the ouster of an elected leader, even an Islamist who came to be viewed by Washington as ineffective during his turbulent year in office. The US government has re-

peatedly urged the army-backed interim authorities to govern in a more inclusive manner — code for accommodating the Brotherhood and restoring democratic rule. Fears It has instead taken harsher measures against Egypt’s oldest Islamist movement. Hundreds of Islamists have been killed and the Brotherhood’s leaders are behind bars, leading to fears that some members of the group will take up arms against the state. The Brotherhood and its allies have urged crowds to gather on Monday outside a police institute near Cairo’s notorious Tora prison, where Mursi’s trial is ex-

pected to take place. The charges relate to the deaths of about a dozen people in clashes outside the presidential palace in December after Mursi enraged his opponents with a decree expanding his powers. Mursi has been held in a secret location since July. In that time militants have staged almost daily attacks against security forces in the Sinai Peninsula and some fear insurgency could spread to other parts of Egypt. Hundreds of Mursi loyalists have been killed and the Brotherhood’s leaders have been imprisoned. Egypt has also declared a state of emergency and imposed a night-time curfew. - Reuters

S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 , 2 01 3

INDIA Gold curb hits bullion industry; jobs shrink Reﬁners, jewellery manufacturers and

It will be difficult for a jeweller to replenish gold after festivals. We are anticipating a shift of workforce from the jewellery sector to others Bachhraj Bamalwa

retailers say they could start cutting jobs after Diwali in the ﬁrst week of November as festive demand will have sucked supply dry BLEAK FUTURE: About 300,000 to 400,000 artisans from Zaveri

NEW DELHI/SINGAPORE: Squeezed by government rules meant to curb a surge in gold imports, India’s bullion industry is shrinking, with banks and others opting to redeploy personnel for now but possibly facing big job cuts in coming months. Refiners, jewellery manufacturers and retailers say they could start cutting jobs after Diwali in the first week of November as festive demand will have sucked supply dry. Some have already begun to do so. Gold on the local market is now fetching a record premium of $130 an ounce to the global bullion price and that is expected to climb even higher because of coming festivals. Gold imports Bullion banks, who profited from huge volumes of gold imports until May, have begun shifting people from their gold desks to other teams. “There is no gold coming in so how do we carry on? Consolidation is happening at the moment in the industry,” said the head of one of India’s biggest jewellery chains, speaking on condition of anonymity. He said he had cut “tens of jobs” at his firm. Gold is the secondbiggest item on India’s import bill after oil and, facing a record trade deficit and a plunging cur-

Bazaar, India’s biggest bullion market, have already moved back to their villages due to lack of work. – File photo

Director at the All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation

With gold scarce, festive season loses sheen NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: A scarcity of gold and high prices are pushing Indians to look to silver or diamond jewellery as alternative gifts this festive season, adding to the gloom in the gold trade after government measures to restrict imports. Indians are the biggest buyers of gold in the world and many believe that buying and giving

rency this year, the government imposed stringent rules with the aim of curbing demand for the metal. These have slowed imports to a trickle: a mere seven tonnes arrived in September versus a record high of 162 tonnes in May. One of the new rules stipulates that 20 per cent of imported gold has to be re-exported. Exports currently equate to less than 10 per cent of imports, which means it will be hard to meet the

it on holy days brings good fortune. Diwali, falls tomorrow. “So far, we have sold just two gold rings today. It’s a far cry from what it was during Dhanteras last year,” said executive Sanjay Kumar at Chawla Jewellers in New Delhi. Saleswomen in bright traditional sarees sat idle. Outside the shop, a big banner trumpets a Rs1,000 ($16)

country’s estimated demand of 1,000 tonnes this year. “It will get difficult for a jeweller to replenish gold after festivals. We are anticipating a transfer of workforce from the jewellery sector to others,” said Bachhraj Bamalwa, a director at the All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation. He said around 15 million people worked in jewellery manufacturing plus one million in sales, and that a quarter of them

discount on gold market prices and a discount of up to 50 per cent on diamond jewellery. “People are suffering from cost inﬂation, they don’t have liquid cash. We expect sales of about Rs250,000 today, about half of what we made last Dhanteras,” said T.M. Bhandari, selling jewellery at Mohan Silver Shoppe in New Delhi. - Reuters

could lose their jobs if supply problems continued, an alarmist forecast that might put pressure on the government to rethink the import restrictions. Lack of work About 300,000 to 400,000 artisans from Zaveri Bazaar, India’s biggest bullion market, have already moved back to their villages due to a lack of work, according to Bombay Bullion Association director Kumar Jain. - Reuters

S H O R TA G E W O E S

Onions leading to murders in UP now LUCKNOW: The driver and cleaner of a truck transporting onions were murdered on a highway in Uttar Pradesh after a gang looted the consignment, police said yesterday. A 10-member gang has been robbing trucks carrying vegetables from neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, police say. Jaunpur’s Superintendent of Police Happy Guptan said that three members of the gang were arrested on Thursday evening. They admitted to looting the truck, which was coming from Ta-

mil Nadu, on the night of October 7-8 near Satarhia and killing its driver and cleaner. The criminals had followed the truck coming from Tamil Nadu in two Indigo cars. They intercepted it and told the driver that they were from the Mandi Samiti and wanted to check the consignment. They then drugged the driver and cleaner and shot them in the head. While the driver’s body was dumped in Sigramau in Jaunpur district, the cleaner was dumped in Sultanpur. A special task force of the Uttar

Pradesh Police nabbed two of the gang members soon after the incident. Three more were arrested on Thursday night. The gang members confessed to carrying out a similar murder of another truck driver in Vardha in Azamgarh two months back, Guptan said. The cleaner of that truck escaped. That truck was, however, carrying tomatoes, which quickly rotted and had to be dumped instead of being sold. It was then that the gang decided to hit trucks carrying non-

perishable items such as onion, police said. Police say there have been eight such incidents on the Allahabad-Manganwa road (from Rewa) and Allahabad-Varanasi road in the past two months. “While we initially though these are routine robberies with the victims killed for fear of being identiﬁed later, the interrogation of the ﬁrst lot revealed bizzare aspects of the crime,” Guptan said. Officials blamed it all on the steep hike in onion prices. An alert has been sounded for onion robbers still on the run. - IANS

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

S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 3

INDIA DUBAI

Indian woman bus conductor stabbed to death by husband DUBAI: An Indian woman bus conductor was stabbed to death allegedly by her husband, who later tried to commit suicide by cutting his wrist, a media report said here yesterday. Sonia, who was in her 30’s, hailed from Kerala, was stabbed ﬁve times on the chest and other body parts by her estranged husband Ranjith in broad daylight just outside the New Indian Model School ( NIMS) in Al Garhoud yesterday. Her husband then tried to commit suicide by cutting his wrist using the same knife after allegedly committing the crime, local media reported. The accused was then hospitalised by the police. The couple was not in good terms with each other and has two school-going children living in Kerala, the report said. Police said Sonia died on the spot due to her severe injuries. About 15 metres away, the police

found a severely bleeding man lying on the ground, after he cut the veins of his arm. Eyewitnesses told the police that the woman was about to enter a bus when the man approached her and started arguing with her. He then took a knife from his pocket and stabbed her. The victim’s body was moved to the General Department of Forensic Medicine while the man was transferred to Rashid Hospital, police said. The police have not interrogated the man, who is admitted in the ICU, to learn the motive behind the murder. The injured husband and murdered wife used to quarrel quite often, though they were living separately in the UAE. According to sources, the couple came to the UAE only about a year ago after their business back home ended up in losses. - Agencies

Modi is spreading lies on UPA, alleges Sibal Wondering why Modi didn’t address

The country’s future is decided by policies and not allegations. Unfortunately, for some days, such an atmosphere has been made that the talk is more about individuals than about issues

press meets, the law minister said he wanted a controlled audience so he can get away with his untruths

NEW DELHI: Accusing Narendra Modi of engaging in “politics of lies”, Law Minister Kapil Sibal yesterday challenged Bharatiya Janata Party’s Prime Ministerial candidate to a debate as he stated that political discourse should move from individuals to issues affecting the country. And, as BJP quickly responded to Sibal’s challenge, saying Arun Jaitley was ready to debate him, the union minister said he would take on Jaitley when he also became a prime ministerial candidate. He is challenging Modi to a debate as it was the Gujarat Chief Minister who was spreading lies against the Congress led United Progressive Alliance, Sibal said. ‘Perennial opponent’ Slamming Modi, whom he referred to as the “perennial opponent” (Nirantar Virodhi) without, however, taking his name, Sibal accused him of spreading untruths about UPA. He sought to puncture the BJP’s leader’s repeated refrain that Congress had destroyed the country. “I am sorry that the issues which should be discussed are not

Kapil Sibal Law minister

being discussed... They (BJP) do not have issues. Hence they only talk about individuals... One person can neither make nor is going to make the future of the country. “The country’s future is decided by policies and not allegations. Unfortunately, for some days, such an atmosphere has been made that the talk is more about individuals than about issues,” Sibal said. Releasing a bunch of papers to show that UPA had performed better than the BJP-led NDA government in terms of GDP growth, increasing per capita income, bringing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country and so on, Sibal said that if the above meant destroying India, then BJP should remain permanently in opposition so that the country may progress. Wondering why Modi did not address press conferences, Sibal alleged the Gujarat chief minister wanted a controlled audi-

ence so that he can get away with his untruths. He also ridiculed the BJP leader over his “gaffes” regarding history during his Patna rally, saying, “He does not know that Alexander never reached the Ganges, that Chandragupta Maurya did not belong to Gupta dynasty and that Taxila is in Pakistan and not in Patna. How can somebody, who does not know history, create history. Surprised which history book he read.” Sibal also attacked Modi over BJP’s alliance with Shiv Sena to question his affection for people from Bihar. “If he has so much affection for people from Bihar, he should snap ties with Shiv Sena because they do not want Biharis to live in Maharashtra,” Sibal said. Taking a dig at Modi, Sibal said the BJP leader never addresses press conferences. “He only delivers a speech and

goes way... he wants a controlled environment,” he said, adding that he had never seen the Gujarat chief minister smile. “Have you seen him smile. I have never seen him smile. He is always acrimonious,” the minister said. Different facts The Congress leader also took a swipe at Modi over his remarks at a rally that China spends 20 per cent of its GDP on education, saying that the facts were different as the country allocates only 4 per cent of its GDP under that head. Going poetic, he read out a few lines of verse, which implied that while lies have been sold out, there was no buyer at the shop of truths. He said that while the average agricultural growth was 1.84 per cent under NDA, it jumped to 3.43 per cent during the UPA regime. - PTI

H E A LT H M I N I S T E R ’ S S TAT E M E N T

‘Pakistan army trying to derail peace process’ JAMMU: Union Health Minister and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad yesterday said that despite all the peace initiatives taken by India with Pakistan, its army was vitiating the environment. He was referring to the repeated violations of the November 2003 bilateral ceasefire between India and Pakistan by the Pakistan Army on the borders of Jammu and Kashmir. “In spite of various confidence building initiatives by India to restore peace in the region, incidents of unprovoked firing on the border reveal the nefarious designs of the Pakistan Army to derail the peace process,” Azad said while interacting with residents of border villages in the Jammu region yesterday. Azad conducted an extensive tour of the border areas of Akhnoor, Bishnah and RS Pura sectors of the

ASSESSING DAMAGE: Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad

conducted an extensive tour of the border areas of Akhnoor, Bishnah and RS Pura sectors to take stock of the problems of the people affected by ﬁring from Pakistan. - PTI ﬁle photo

international border to take stock of the problems of the people affected by ﬁring from Pakistan. Azad interacted with the villagers of Chatta Gujral in Pargwal. When some of them asked for at least ﬁve marlas of land at safer

places so that they could move away from their villages to escape the brunt of repeated ﬁring, the minister said he would take up the matter with the state and central governments. He said lands would be identi-

fied to accommodate the people of the border villages in safer areas in case of an emergency. Villagers also demanded compensation for damage to crops in the wake of the continuous firing; many villagers complained that although crops had ripened, they were not able to reap them because of repeated firing. Residents of villages close to the international border demanded reservation facilities in education and employment for their upliftment; they also said that students should be compensated for falling behind in their studies. They villagers also urged the minister to organise special recruitment drives in their areas for the army and paramilitary forces, so unemployed youth in the area could take part in them. He assured the villagers that their demands would be taken up on priority. - IANS

S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 , 2 01 3

PAKISTAN Govt hits out at drone strike in Miranshah The statement added that the Pakistan government has consistently maintained that drone productive and entail loss of innocent VENTING IRE: Activists of the banned Pakistani charity organisation Jamaat-ud-Dawa hold banners

and placards as they shout slogans against US drone attacks across the country’s tribal regions during a protest in Islamabad, yesterday. – AFP

ISLAMABAD: With unconﬁrmed reports that a drone strike in Dandey Darpakhel in Miranshah area of North Waziristan targeting a compound in the use of Tehreek-eTaleban Pakistan chief Hakeemullah Mehsud, the government of Pakistan condemns the strike. According to a statement released from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday, it repeated its stance that drone strikes are a violation of Pakistan’s soverBLACK MARKET

Govt may have lost Rs80b to illicit trade ISLAMABAD: Pakistan may have lost more than Rs80 billion to “the black market and the unstoppable transportation of tax evaded products” during the last five years, according to a Euromonitor report. In its latest report on the current economic situation in Pakistan, the global research group said that illicit trade is rampant in Pakistan, mainly in the tobacco sector. The report claimed that one out of every four cigarettes in Pakistan is being sold illegally, without the payment of due taxes and duties. It is either smuggled or local duties and taxes have not been paid on it. The growth of this sector has been exponential and in the last five years there has been more than 60 per cent increase in the sale of such cigarettes. According to estimates, around 1.5 billion duty-evaded cigarettes are sold each month. This means that more than Rs1.5 billion is being lost in revenue every month. In the last five years the government has lost Rs100 billion in duties and taxes due to illicit trade. In 2011 alone, illicit trade cost the government Rs18.5 billion in lost tax revenues. It is estimated that in the next five years, loss to national tax revenues shall exceed Rs100 billion. While the legal industry is expected to contribute an estimated Rs87 billion in excise and sales tax in the current fiscal year; contributing almost 3% of the total national revenue base, the illegal industry, on the other hand, is expected to further erode the revenue base, undermining all efforts to increase tax collection. If illicit cigarette trade, which at the moment has one-fourth share of the total market, is eliminated, more than $250 million can be added to the national exchequer every year. - Express Tribune

No offer from govt yet for talks: Pakistani Taleban MIRANSHAH: The Pakistani Taleban said yesterday they have had “no contact” with the government, a day after ofﬁcials said a process to initiate peace talks had been started. The government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been edging towards peace talks to end the Tehreek-e-Taleban Pakistan’s (TTP) bloody six-year struggle against the state, which has left thousands dead. Last month Sharif won the backing of the main political parties to go ahead with dialogue, and the powerful army chief has voiced his support. Officials said on Thursday that the “process of dialogue” had started but no formal talks had taken place yet. Shahidullah Shahid, the main spokesman for the TTP said yesterday that there had been no overtures. “No one has yet contacted us. The government is making announcements only by media, no peace talks have yet been started,” Shahid said.

Six coal miners shot dead in latest sectarian clashes

strikes are counter-

civilian lives

BRIEFS

eignty and territorial integrity and that there is an across the board consensus in Pakistan that these drone strikes must end. Negative impact The statement added that the Pakistan government has consistently maintained that drone strikes are counter-productive, entail loss of innocent civilian lives and have human rights and humanitarian

implications. “Such strikes also set dangerous precedents in the interstate relations.” The statement added that drone strikes have a negative impact on the mutual desire of both countries to forge a cordial and cooperative relationship and to ensure peace and stability in the region. According to initial reports of the strike yesterday, the second in two days, killed at least ﬁve people

as the drone ﬁred two missiles on a compound in Dandey Darpakhel. Earlier on Thursday, a strike targeted another compound and car in the Miranshah Bazaar and killed at least three people. The Pakistani defence ministry on Wednesday said 317 US drone strikes in the country’s tribal areas had killed 67 civilians and 2,160 militants in Pakistan since 2008. - Agencies

QUETTA: Gunmen shot dead six people yesterday, officials said, in what appears to be the latest in a wave of sectarian attacks in Pakistan’s troubled southwest. The incident took place on a road in Muchh town, southeast of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province. “The gunmen attacked a vehicle carrying eight persons, who were returning to their work in coalmines, killing six of them and wounding another one,” senior local administration official Waheed Shah said.

Petrol price cut by 0.48p ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Thursday slashed petrol price by a measly Rs0.48 per litre, instead of the recommended Rs2.48 cut. The reduction took effect from yesterday, according to a notiﬁcation by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra). The new price of petrol stands at Rs112.76 against current price of Rs 113.24 per litre. - Agencies

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S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 3

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Founder: Essa bin Mohammed Al Zedjali Chairman and Editor-in-Chief: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali Deputy Editor-in-Chief: Anees bin Essa Al Zedjali Chief Executive Officer: Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali Editorial: 24726666, Fax: 24813153; E-mail: editor@timesofoman.com Advertising: 24726666, Fax: 24812624 Circulation: 24726600, Fax: 24818270; E-mail: circulation@timesofoman.com Printed and published by: Muscat Press & Publishing House P.O. Box 770, Ruwi, Postal Code: 112, Sultanate of Oman. Subscription: RO70 per year.

In search of a new bond with Pakistan

fter years of animosity between Pakistan and the United States, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Obama used their first meeting at the White House to begin to set the relationship on a more constructive path. Sharif, who was elected in May, is stronger politically than his predecessor, and the absence of Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, the army chief of staff, and probably the most powerful man in Pakistan, was one of the most hopeful aspects of the meeting. It shows that Sharif may be making some progress asserting civilian control over a government long dominated by the military. It was also significant that Sharif brought along the finance minister, Ishaq Dar, underscoring his focus on reviving Pakistan’s devastated economy. Of course, it is not just the emphasis on development, foreign investment and trade that impressed his American hosts. Sharif has also acknowledged that there will be no economic growth without security, and there will be no security unless Afghanistan is at peace and Pakistan’s relations with India are improved. The issue is what he will do to advance those goals. Sharif has held separate talks with President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India. But at a time of uncertainty — Afghanistan and India are both facing elections and American troops are withdrawing from Afghanistan — Pakistan needs to do more to improve regional stability. This should include cracking down on the Afghan Taleban, who have links to the Pakistani military and use the lawless border region to attack Afghanistan, and working with India to end cross-border skirmishes in Kashmir. American drone strikes against insurgent targets in the border region remain a source of tension, and Sharif made the obligatory request that Obama halt them. But Pakistani officials have acquiesced to the attacks in order to deal with their own virulent Pakistani Taleban insurgency. Concerns raised by international nongovernmental groups about civilians killed by drones should cause both governments to limit the program. The United States enlisted Pakistan as an ally in the anti-terror fight after September 11, 2001, and provided it with billions of dollars, mostly in military aid. But the Pakistani military has long played a double-game, accepting that money while also enabling Taleban groups; relations with Washington plummeted to their lowest point in 2011 after several incidents, including the Navy SEAL team raid that killed Osama Bin Laden. Over the past decade, the distrust between the United States and Pakistan has grown so deep that the Obama administration reportedly stepped up its surveillance of Pakistan’s nuclear programme. Obama’s decision to meet with Sharif, free up $1.5 billion in aid that had been put on hold and offer assistance on energy and public works projects shows he has confidence that Sharif is committed to building a democratic state. It is in the interest of both countries that Sharif succeeds. - The New York Times News Service

PEEPING AMERICA

Merkel was not the only target of US snooping

G KARL-THEODOR ZU GUTTENBERG

A lesson for Britain

oreign language teaching in British schools is in crisis. The takeup for language courses is declining so precipitately that almost half our university language departments may have to close in a few years. Research by the European Commission last year put young Britons almost at the bottom of the European class in terms of their grasp of a foreign language. Only 9 per cent of our 14 to 15-year-olds were deemed proficient in one foreign subject. The average in the rest of Europe was 42 per cent. In a global economy, which is increasingly dominated by China rather than Anglophone America, it looks like the wrong way to go, which is why it is encouraging to hear that some schools like Harrogate Grammar are vigorously bucking the trend. In this non-selective academy, all students study a combination of French plus either German, Spanish or Italian. Around 24 languages are studied in total, thanks to a deal with the Rosetta Stone language experts. The school’s aim is to create a different culture from the one prevailing in most schools, one where the question is no longer, “Why study languages?” but “Which ones shall I study?” It is good to learn that experts see Harrogate Grammar as a model because countering the trend towards knowledge of only one language is a noble ideal, as well as profitable from the point of view of Britons competing in the global jobs market. If all our children learned a foreign language properly it would be almost be a second Enlightenment, because confinement to English alone inevitably limits appreciation of other cultures. Indeed, it is a manifestation of an ugly cultural supremacism. If we don’t want a situation in which only private school pupils know more than a smattering of French – in which knowledge of another language is another badge of class distinction – we need to look to Harrogate Grammar’s example, as well as revisiting policy changes that made languages optional at GCSE level. - The Independent

Childless couples should be going for adoption

Somali-Americans joining hands with Al Shabaab

This refers to the Perspective page article, A day for women without children (October 30). The author’s concern about women without children is appreciable. However, I am unable to endorse her views. True, childlessness is a painful experience in one’s life and an agony difficult to bear. But calling a day to honour childless women is not acceptable as it will only highlight their inability which may cause them further pain. The society needs to change its mind-set as childlessness is not a curse. Such women need to be counselled and encouraged to adopt wherein they can become mothers and the orphans get a home. G.V.K. Durga Ravi Muscat

Across the Gulf of Aden in Somalia, militants of the Al Qaeda afﬁliate Al Shabaab bombarded the city of Baidoa in a full scale military operation, trying to expand their foothold in the southern portions of the country. With a growing number of American citizens from cities like Minneapolis and Phoenix travelling to — and from —Somalia to ﬁght alongside Al Shabaab, there is an increasing likelihood that radicalised operatives could perpetrate an attack in the United States. A report by the House Committee on Homeland Security found that Al Shabaab had recruited at least 40 SomaliAmericans from immigrant communities in the US. Sumit Chatterjee Qurum

Obama administration appears to have failed to ask itself some basic questions. How could it justify spying on a leader who is among America’s closest allies in Nato and in the Afghanistan mission — a leader whom he invited to the Rose Garden to bestow the Presidential Medal of Freedom

ermans used to joke that Chancellor Angela Merkel’s penchant for communicating via ﬂeeting text messages effectively marked the end of traditional historiography. Well, at least American spy agencies seem to have kept full track of the behind-thescenes communications — in Berlin and beyond. Regrettably, US President Barack Obama and his administration have yet to comprehend the scale and severity of the damage caused to America’s credibility among its European allies. The problem is not that countries spy on each other (they all do). Rather, it is the extent of US intelligence gathering and America’s attitude toward allies that is most damaging. Previous transatlantic clashes over diverse issues such as climate change, the detainees at Guantánamo Bay, and the Iraq War exposed a breakdown of mutual understanding, sometimes stemming from sharp differences over how best to achieve certain common objectives. But the wiretapping crisis and other troubling revelations from the former American intelligence contractor Edward J. Snowden point to a deeper problem: a crisis of mutual distrust that risks becoming a serious transatlantic rift at a time when closer political, economic, and security cooperation between Europe and the United States is needed more than ever. There is probably nothing more destructive to friendly relations among democratic states than behaviour by an ally that causes the other side to lose face at home. After all, it was Merkel who tried to calm the waters after the NSA scandal ﬁrst hit Europe this summer. That is why the alleged US wiretapping of her cellphone is so damaging for her, both personally and politically. As someone who served in Merkel’s government from 2009 to 2011, I must admit that I was rather careless in the use of mobile communication devices while in office. In principle, of course, one should always assume that foreign intelligence services attempt to listen in on other governments’ conversations. But it makes a big difference whether such activities are conducted by Russia or China, or by an ally that repeatedly emphasizes the importance of close transatlantic friendship and cooperation. Obama’s personality makes matters more complicated. It is hard to recall any other US president who has been so personally disconnected from other heads of state. Instead of immediately reaching out to a friendly country, he decided to lie low and send White House Press Secretary Jay Carney to issue a rather awkward statement that the US government “is not” and “will not” monitor Merkel’s communications. Of course, it does not take much interpretive skill to recognize a clumsy attempt to avoid confessing that US intelligence services targeted Merkel in the past. The Obama administration appears to have failed to ask itself some basic questions. How could it jus-

READERS’ FORUM “Insure with New India and be secure”

Mediocre men often have the most acquired knowledge CLAUDE BERNARD

tify spying on a leader who is among America’s closest allies in NATO and in the Afghanistan mission — a leader whom he invited to the Rose Garden to bestow the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honour that America can give to a foreigner? Moreover, Merkel was not the only target. In the case of France, how could the Obama administration justify targeting an ally that has tried hard to build trust with the US by providing much-needed military and political cover in Libya and Syria? French President François Hollande, too, must feel like a fool — not just as a result of US surveillance, but also because he probably received no advance warning from his intelligence services about Obama’s sudden decision to ask Congress to pass a resolution prior to using military force in Syria. Finally, how can Obama explain to the EU (whose delegation in Washington, DC, was also bugged) that it is crucially important to enter into honest, serious, and comprehensive negotiations to conclude a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership? Prominent voices in Europe — including the president of the European Parliament and the leader of Germany’s Social Democrats (who is about to form a coalition government with Merkel) — are already demanding a suspension of the TTIP talks. The potential economic cost of a delay or a failure to achieve closer transatlantic economic integration could total hundreds of billions of dollars — in addition to the incalculable damage done to America’s credibility in Europe. There is much talk today about the risks of a new era of American isolationism and a lack of US leadership in the world. It is important to remember that isolationism can be triggered not only by a potential retreat from global affairs, but also by the rather imprudent use of America’s hard and soft power on the world stage. To escape the NSA mess, various options will be discussed. The new Franco-German push for an intelligence-sharing agreement with the US is probably difficult to put into practice, especially considering that spy services operating around the world are not always fully controllable. As a first step, Obama must rediscover the great communications skills that propelled him to the White House in the first place. From a public-diplomacy perspective, his handling of the surveillance scandal has been a complete failure. To contain the damage and begin to rebuild much-needed trust, Obama must issue a credible apology to Merkel, other Western allies, and their citizens. In the American political context, issuing an apology, especially to foreign governments, is often viewed as a sign of weakness. In the case of the NSA scandal, an unequivocal apology by Obama is the only viable solution to leave the past behind and move forward. Unfortunately, the window of opportunity for such a gesture to be viewed in Europe as a much-awaited olive branch — and a sign of real American strength and conviction — is closing fast. - Project Syndicate

Al Qaeda is still far from defeated by the US It will be presumptuous to believe what Obama’s spin doctors have been claiming or propagating. The Director of National Intelligence of the United States James Clapper, claimed that bin Laden’s elimination would reduce Al Qaeda’s existence into a “symbolic importance.” A few others said Al Qaeda had been put into a coffin and nails had been driven in to seal it. Complacency, a typical American trait, has been at its best. The truth is, Al Qaeda has neither been defeated nor has its been existence reduced to mere “symbolic importance”. Even after a decade of war against Al Qaeda, the world remains no safer than what it used to be at the beginning of the new century. Al Qaeda is a virtual organization held together

by its message and the inspiration it provided. It will not be easy to delete Al Qaeda by waging military operations against it. Rubina Al Khuwair

Mystery over Yetis remains far from solved A British scientist has said that Yetis are actually a kind of ancient Arctic bear who lived on the earth between 50,000 and 100,000 years ago. Such a conclusion has raised a few questions. Yeti is believed to be some kind of an ape who walks upright. Did the ancient bear walk on two legs and did it walk straight? The Yeti mystery nevertheless remains far from solved. K.R. Nayak Ruwi

Letters, containing not more than 200 words with full name, address and telephone number, may be sent by mail (Times of Oman, P.O. Box 770, P.C. 112, Ruwi), by fax (24813153) or by e-mail (times@omantel.net.om)

S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 , 2 01 3

WORLD LETTER

Global pressure will force US to stop harmful behaviour: Snowden BERLIN: Edward Snowden has told the German government in a letter he believes support from around the world will persuade Washington to stop what he called “harmful behaviour” in trying to prevent him from revealing secret surveillance by the US government. “Speaking the truth is not a crime,” read the letter from the

former US spy agency contractor, who has taken refuge in Russia. He gave the letter to German lawmaker Hans-Christian Stroebele, who presented it to the media in Berlin yesterday. “I am conﬁdent that with the support of the international community, the government of the US will abandon this harmful behaviour,” Snowden wrote in the

letter to Chancellor Angela Merkel, the German parliament and federal prosecutors. Germany interested The German government said yesterday it would like to talk to US intelligence leaker Snowden in Russia but that he did not meet the requirements for asylum. After a meeting between a Ger-

man lawmaker and Snowden in Moscow in which the former NSA contractor offered to provide insider knowledge on US espionage activities, Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich said Berlin was interested. “If the message is that Mr Snowden wants to give us information, then we would gladly accept,” he told reporters.

Vanishing eel stocks alarm fishermen The families which have ﬁshed eel in United Kingdom’s largest lake for generations believe their traditional industry and way of life may be coming to an end

SHARP DROP: The number of young eels reaching the continent’s

river systems has fallen by up to 99 per cent since the 1970s.

CRUMLIN: From the food stalls and pie shops of Dickensian London to haute cuisine restaurants in Tokyo, the eel has a long and rich culinary history that transcends classes and national borders. But it is becoming an increasingly rare delicacy as stocks plummet and Europe’s ﬁshing industry shrinks to make itself sustainable. With an annual catch of about 600 tonnes, Europe’s largest commercial eel ﬁshery — and the United Kingdom’s largest lake — is Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland. Those whose families

have fished its shallow grey-green and nutrient rich waters for generations believe their traditional industry and way of life may be coming to an end. “There will not be another generation of fishermen. More than half are of pension age. Whenever I finish that will be the end,” said Shane O’Neill, a sprightly 70 year old from the nearby town of Crumlin who has worked the lake since 1960. According to legend, Ireland’s patron Saint Patrick removed all its snakes, which represented the Devil, and many went into the wa-

ter and became eels - one possible reason why they are not a popular dish in Ireland. So most of the lake’s produce - protected under European law in the same way as champagne and parma ham and a delicacy in countries including Germany, Poland, China and Japan - gets sent abroad. Selling at around 6 pounds ($9.7) a pound (450 grams) or three times the price of other eels, Lough Neagh’s catch is also exported across the Irish Sea to Britain. Londoners used to harvest

eels from the Thames and they became a staple for the city’s working class, whether jellied chopped and boiled in a stock that cools and sets - or baked in a pie with mashed potato. But most of the capital’s eel outlets have long since closed. This week the government, which says the fish is as closely linked to the city as its black cabs, put one that is still doing business, the L Manze Eel, Pie and Mash Shop, under special architectural protection. The decline of London’s eel shops mirrors a sharp drop in Europe’s stocks. The number of young eels reaching the continent’s river systems, where the fish mature before returning to the Sargasso Sea in the Atlantic to breed, has fallen by up to 99 per cent since the 1970s, according to the International Council for Exploration of the Seas group of scientists. “It’s gone from an extreme abundance to a massive drop of arrivals,” said Andrew Kerr, chairman of the Sustainable Eel Group conservation organisation. “It is a similar level of endangerment to the tiger or panda.” There is no single explanation for the drop but possible causes other than overfishing include parasites, damming of rivers, pollution and changes to the course of the Gulf Stream. Scientists say it is very tricky to keep tabs on populations. -AFP

RAID ON TUNNEL

Israel kills four Hamas rebels in Gaza GAZA: An Israeli raid to destroy a Gaza tunnel ignited clashes in which tank fire killed four Hamas commanders and left five Israeli soldiers wounded, officials from both sides said yesterday. In one of the deadliest flareups in Gaza since an October 2012 war, Israeli warplanes carried out an air strike after Palestinian militants lobbed between one and three mortar shells into southern Israel, though neither attack caused any further casualties. Gaza’s Hamas rulers are under increased pressure from both Israel and Egypt, which has destroyed hundreds of similar tunnels in the south of the besieged

Palestinian enclave used to bring in fuel and other goods. The closure of the Egypt tunnels forced authorities to shut down Gaza’s sole electricity plant early Friday, causing widespread power outages, the Islamist movement Hamas said. The Israeli military said the fighting erupted late Thursday night when an explosive device went off as troops were clearing a tunnel from Gaza into Israel, allegedly to be used as a springboard for militant attacks. The blast wounded five soldiers, the army said. In response, “the soldiers opened fire and directly hit a ter-

rorist,” and Israeli warplanes struck “an additional terror tunnel located in the southern Gaza Strip,” it said. Palestinian officials said four local commanders of Hamas’s military wing, the Ezzedine Al Qassam Brigades, were killed by tank ﬁre. Rabieh Barikeh was killed instantly and Khaled Abu Bakr died of his wounds during the night, according to the officials, who said the commanders were carrying out surveillance along the frontier east of the town of Khan Yunis when they came under ﬁre. The bodies of Mohammed alQassas and Mohammed Daoud

were discovered later. Barikeh’s funeral on Friday afternoon, the first of the four that were to take place during the day, was attended by some 2,000 Hamas supporters holding up the movement’s flag and shouting “revenge against Israel.” During the exchange, Hamas TV said, three mortar shells were fired from Gaza into southern Israel, but the Israeli army reported only one, which it said fell in an open field, causing no casualties or damage. The military said the initial operation was aimed at dismantling a section of a tunnel into Israel uncovered last month. -AFP

Amid speculation that Snowden would like to exchange secrets for asylum in Germany, German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said that Berlin had already rejected an asylum request from Snowden earlier this year on the grounds that any applicant must be in the country. “That is the state of play,” he told a news conference when

asked whether Germany would offer refuge to Snowden, whose US passport Washington revoked following his extensive intelligence leaks. An interior ministry spokesman noted that the German government had received an extradition request for Snowden on July 3 should he arrive in Germany and that Berlin has an extradition agreement with Washington. -AFP

A10

S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 3

WORLD With new film, Harrison Ford is back to Star Wars theme It is almost Ford’s first sci-fi film since

I’m just looking for a good story, a good character, whether Earth-bound or not

the last Star Wars movie, apart from a role in 2011’s Cowboys and Aliens

Harrison Ford NEW YORK: More than 30 years after Star Wars, Harrison Ford has returned to inter-stellar space battles in big-budget sci-ﬁ spectacular Ender’s Game. But the 71-year-old insists it’s the human relations rather than hi-tech wizardry that drew him to the project, developed from a novel by Orson Scott Card and directed by South African X-Men director Gavin Hood. “It doesn’t matter to me whether I go back into outer space or not,” he told reporters in Beverly Hills, ahead of the movie’s US release yesterday. “The job is the same and I don’t have any sort of

Hollywood actor

genre preferences. “I’m just looking for a good story, a good character, whether Earth-bound or not.” In a ﬁlm which will resonate with Star Wars fans recalling the young Luke Skywalker and the crusty Han Solo, Ford plays Colonel Graff, training a group of children and teenagers how to protect the Earth from an alien invasion. The best bet to save the world is Ender, played by Britain’s Asa Butterﬁeld, who starred in Martin Scorsese’s 2011 drama Hugo.

Timid, but with an exceptional gift for military strategy and tactics, he becomes the hero of a film in which inter-galactic battles are played out in space and in a simulated game world. It is almost Ford’s first sci-fi film since the last Star Wars movie, apart from a role in 2011’s Cowboys and Aliens. And science fiction has changed quite a bit since director George Lucas released the initial trilogy of the cult movie franchise in 1977

-- as Ford explained as he presented his latest movie. “When we were making Star Wars, they were putting together space ships out of plastic model kits of cars and boats and trains and gluing them all together, and then putting them on a stick and flying them past the camera. “And it worked. It was fine. Add a little music and you believed that big spaceship coming over your head,” he said. Dismisses the label “icon”Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) can achieve incredible effects, but the veteran Hollywood actor warns they should not be abused. “Often in those cases I feel you lose touch with the human characters and what it is that they would feel and how they might feel, and that’s still the most important part. Into his seventh decade, the actor is in fact busier than ever, with three other films released this year: 42”, “Paranoia” and Anchorman 2: the Legend Continues. But the legendary Indiana Jones actor, while one of the most famous actors in the world, dismisses the label of “icon.” “An icon means nothing to me.

I don’t understand what it means to anybody actually. It seems like a word of convenience. “It seems to attend to the huge success of certain kinds of movies that I did, but... I don’t know what an icon does, except stand in a corner quietly accepting everyone’s attention,” he joked. The hit 1985 novel on which the ﬁlm is based has a lot of violence, which is intrinsic to its story. But the movie’s director said he approached that aspect carefully. “I wanted the violence to feel real but not indulged,” Hood said. “I hope I found the balance... the story is about (Ender) struggling with his own capacity for too much violence. So if you don’t show the boy with the capacity for too much violence, you can’t tell the story. So it’s tricky.” Young actress Hailee Steinfeld, nominated for an Oscar in 2011 for her role in the Coen Brothers’ True Grit, plays Ender’s best friend Petra in the new movie. She is also circumspect about violence. “I don’t think Gavin’s intentions, anybody’s intentions were to make things violent. It was just to make it exciting and adventurous and daring,” she said. -AFP

GUNMAN

Two reported hurt in LA airport shooting LOS ANGELES: At least two people were injured yesterday in a shooting incident at Los Angeles’ international airport, parts of which were evacuated as police swarmed into the area, officials and reports said. But police said there was “no mass casualty incident” at the airport. Live TV footage showed armed police on the top of parking structures, apparently still looking for a possible gunman, while multiple ambulances were parked outside a terminal building. “There is an incident underway at LAX,” the airport said on its Twitter feed, adding: “Ground stop now in effect at LAX after shooting in terminal.” The LA Fire Department tweeted that its officers were assisting law enforcement at a “multi-patient incident at LAX.” But LA Police Department spokesman Guss Villanueva told KTLA 5 television that he believed there were two of three people injured, as well as the gunman. No mass casualty “There’s no mass casualty incident here at this point,” he said. TV footage showed one person on a gurney, being loaded into an ambulance. Another victim was seen being rushed away on a wheelchair.

PROPOSAL SCUTTLED

PRISTINE WILDERNESS: Giant tabular icebergs surrounded by

ice ﬂoe drift in Vincennes Bay in the Australian Antarctic Territory recently. -AFP

Russia, Ukraine thwart Antarctica sanctuary plans SYDNEY: Russia and the Ukraine yesterday again scuttled plans to create the world’s largest ocean sanctuary in Antarctica, pristine waters rich in energy and species such as whales, penguins and vast stocks of fish, an environmentalist group said. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources wound up a weeklong meeting in Hobart, Australia, considering proposals for two “marine protected areas” aimed at conserving the ocean wilderness from fishing, drilling for oil and other industrial interests. “It seems pretty clear that a small group of countries led by Russia wanted to wreck the agreement,” Steve Campbell, director of the Antarctic Ocean Alliance which campaigns for protecting the Antarctic seas, said by phone from London. Sanctuary proposals For the sanctuary proposals to pass, they need backing from all 200 delegates from 25 member countries, many of which have conflicting interests. Russia and Ukraine also actively blocked the two proposals in July, with China withdrawing support for one. “This is a dark day not just for

the Antarctic, but for the world’s oceans,” Andrea Kavanagh, director of the independent Pew Charitable Trusts’ Southern Ocean sanctuaries project, said. Favourable outcome Tony Fleming, director of the Australian Antarctic Division, hoped for a more favourable outcome the next time the proposals are discussed next year. “If we work with members throughout the year, I believe we can bring a proposal back to next year’s meeting which will hopefully achieve consensus,” he said. Antarctica is home to more than 10,000 species including most of the world’s penguins, whales, seabirds, colossal squid and Antarctic tooth ﬁsh. It is considered one of the least altered marine ecosystems and provides a global reference point for assessing the consequences of climate change. “While many other marine ecosystems in other parts of the world have been devastated by development, pollution, mining and over-ﬁshing, many of Antarctica’s ocean habitats remain intact with all of their predator species still thriving,” the Antarctic Ocean Alliance says on its website. -Reuters

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2013

S P O R S FOR A CAUSE

‘MoustAshes’ battle gets hairy for Aussies SYDNEY: Australia’s cricketers will be having their own battle of the ‘moustAshes’ when they take on England during the Ashes series starting this month. Matthew Wade, David Warner, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson and head coach Darren Lehmann will vie with each other for the hairiest upper lip as they raise funds for the Movember charity. The cricketers are beginning their moustache-growing from November 1 to raise funds and awareness for prostate, testicular cancers and mental health. Lehmann said he had no hesitation in offering his support for Movember, one of Cricket Australia’s two charity partners. Lehmann said in a CA statement yesterday: “It’s great to have Wade, Warner, Starc and Johnson on board as well and I think things will get pretty competitive but hopefully I’ll have the boys covered when it comes to the end of the month.” - AFP OPL

Suwaiq beat Al Musannah MUSCAT: Suwaiq recorded a well-deserved 3-1 win against Al Musannah at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex to catch up with table toppers Al Nahda in the Oman Professional League (OPL) yesterday. The victory in the ﬁrst match of week seven helped Suwaiq take their points tally to 13, same as Al Nahda but the latter are on top thanks to their superior goal average. Al Nahda are scheduled to play Fanja tomorrow. In today’s matches, Sohar face Sur and Saham meet Majees.

Pakistan strangle S Africa for series-levelling victory SCOREBOARD

PAKISTAN N Jamshed c Tsotsobe b Morkel 1 A Shehzad c&b Tahir 58 M Hafeez b McLaren 26 Misbah c Miller b McLaren 25 U Ami c de Villiers b McLaren 14 U Akmal c Ingram b Morkel 18 S Afridi c Smith b Morkel 26 Sohail Tanvir run out 9 W Riaz c du Plessis b Parnell 18 S Ajmal lbw McLaren 0 M Irfan not out 0 Extras (lb-4, nb-1, w-9) 14 Total (all out; 49.4 overs) 209 Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-52, 3-112, 4-117, 5-148, 6-148, 7-170, 8-198, 9-200. Bowling: Morkel 10-0-38-3 (w-2), Tsotsobe 8-1-39-0 (nb-1), Parnell 7.4-0-49-1 (w-2), Tahir 10-1-28-1 (w-1), McLaren 10-0-34-4 (w-4), Duminy 4-0-17-0.

Shahid Afridi took three for 26 and Mohammed Irfan ﬁnished with three for 53 as Pakistan defended a low total of 209 to square the ﬁvematch series at 1-1

DUBAI: Leg-spinner Shahid Afridi and paceman Mohammed Irfan shared six wickets as Pakistan thumped South Africa by 66 runs in the second day-night international here yesterday. Afridi took three for 26 and Irfan finished with three for 53 as Pakistan defended a low total of 209 to square the five-match series at 1-1. South Africa pulled off a sensational one-run win in the first match in Sharjah on Wednesday. The remaining matches will be played in Abu Dhabi (November 6 and 8) and in Sharjah (November 11). Saeed Ajmal (two for 15) also shared the bowling spoils as South Africa were bowled out for 143 in 40.4 overs with Ryan McLaren top-scoring with 29 not out. Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul Haq attacked with slow bowlers as early as the fifth over, introducing Mohammed Hafeez who dried up the runs after Colin Ingram fell for four in the second over of the innings. Ajmal accounted for Graeme Smith (14), who was bowled off his legs with South Africa on 43. Six balls later Jean-Paul Duminy, who struck three boundaries in his 25, fell in paceman Mohammed Irfan’s second spell, caught in the slips. When on 21,

SOUTH AFRICA G Smith b Ajmal 14 C Ingram b Tanvir 4 J Duminy c Hafeez b Irfan 25 AB de Villiers c Umar b Afridi 10 F du Plessis lbw Afridi 12 D Miller lbw Hafeez 11 R McLaren not out 29 W Parnell c Umar b Irfan 21 M Morkel b Irfan 5 L Tsotsobe lbw Ajmal 4 I Tahir st Umar b Afridi 3 Extras (lb-1, nb-1, w-3) 5 Total (all out; 40.4 overs) 143 Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-43, 3-49, 4-66, 5-73, 6-83, 7-118, 8-126, 9-131. Bowling: Irfan 10-0-53-3 (nb-1), Tanvir 5-0-15-1 (w-2), Hafeez 10-1-25-1, Ajmal 8-1-15-2 (w-1), Afridi 5.4-0-26-3, Riaz 2-0-8-0.

CRUCIAL STRIKE: Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi celebrates with teammates after dismissing South African

captain AB de Villiers during their second ODI in Dubai yesterday. – AFP

Duminy completed 3,000 one-day runs in his 106th match. Afridi struck with his ﬁrst ball, trapping Faf du Plessis for 12 and in his next over he had dangerman AB de Villiers caught behind for 10, leaving South Africa reeling at 73 for ﬁve. It became 83 for six when Hafeez caught David Miller, who had made 11, in front of the wicket with

FORMULA ONE

Vettel back on top in Abu Dhabi ABU DHABI: Sebastian Vettel shook off any last vestiges of a hangover yesterday when he clocked the fastest time ahead of Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber in second free practice for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The newly-crowned quadruple world champion, who is seeking to secure his seventh successive victory, was third quickest in morning practice, but responded in style in the afternoon. His fastest lap time of one minute and 41.335 seconds lifted him one-tenth of a second clear of Webber in a session run in cooling conditions and under dazzling ﬂoodlights at the ultramodern Yas Marina Circuit. The ambient temperature dropped by 14 degrees during the session after recordings of 35 degrees Celsius for the air and 46 for the track earlier in the day. Lewis Hamilton, who has always enjoyed and impressed at the Yas Marina, was third fastest for Mercedes ahead of Kimi Raikkonen in the leading Lotus, Nico Rosberg in the second Mercedes and Sergio Perez of McLaren. Vettel, who admitted he felt sick after a night of celebrations in the hotel bar following his triumph in last Sunday’s Indian Grand Prix, once again looked to be in utter command. Afterwards, he said he felt that the Lotus team appeared to be the biggest threat to his winning streak. “It will be the usual suspects, to be honest,” he said, when asked who might emerge as his main rivals. “Lotus is exceptionally quick, especially come Sunday, and may be able to pull off strong pace lat-

er on in the stint so we will have to keep an eye on them. “Mercedes are strong on one lap for tomorrow (qualifying).” He admitted that he had little idea about Ferrari’s potential. Two-time champion Fernando Alonso was 12th in the morning and then only eighth in the afternoon for the Italian giants. “I haven’t seen much of Ferrari,” said Vettel. “Judging the longrun pace is difficult.” Rosberg, who was second in India last Sunday, said he felt confident that Mercedes were capable of being second to Red Bull. Hamilton endured a difficult day despite being the best-placed non-Red Bull. He suffered a differential problem, but said he felt confident. “The long run is always interesting,” said Hamilton. “It’s difficult to know what the car is going to do and as the car gets cooler, it goes into more under-steer and it’s about how much more or less front wing you need. “ Behind the top six, Jenson Button was seventh in the second McLaren ahead of Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg of Sauber with Felipe Massa 10th in the second Ferrari. Lotus driver Romain Grosjean, who was fastest in morning practice, finished up down in 12th after twice being hit by braking problems. He arrived in Abu Dhabi fresh from three straight podium finishes. For McLaren, this weekend and the following last two races of the year present the team with a challenge. The last time McLaren went through a season without a podium finish was back in 1980. - AFP

a sharp delivery. McLaren and Wayne Parnell (21) put on 35 for the seventh wicket but it only delayed the inevitable as South Africa slumped to their second lowest total against Pakistan, behind the 101 they made in Sharjah in 2000. For Pakistan, Ahmed Shehzad was the mainstay with an 85ball 58. Hafeez (26), Afridi (26)

and skipper Misbah (25) failed to capitalise on good starts as McLaren (four for 34) and Morne Morkel (three for 38) ran through the innings. Shehzad had steadied the innings during a 48-run second wicket partnership with Hafeez and another 60 for the third wicket with Misbah before

McLaren derailed the innings with a double strike. Hafeez played on and was bowled in McLaren’s ﬁrst over. When he had made eight, Misbah completed 1,000 one-day runs in 2013, becoming the third batsman to achieve the milestone after Australia’s George Bailey and India’s Virat Kohli. - AFP

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S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 3

SPORTS Oman Air-Musandam duo focus on Transat Jacques Vabre prologue With just three days to go to the start of the 11th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre tomorrow, Oman AirMusandam co-skippers Sidney Gavignet and Damian Foxall are keen to get going!

MUSCAT: “The atmosphere in the Transat Jacques Vabre village has been incredible all week, thousands of people have come out to look at the boats and visit our “Discover Oman” tent and there will be even more people over the weekend,” said Oman Air-Musandam skipper Sidney Gavignet, who has paired up with an old friend and rival in Ireland’s greatest offshore sailor, Damian Foxall, for this edition of the great French classic. “We managed to go for a sail on Tuesday which helped us to stay focused. It is good to get cold and wet at least once in the week leading up to the start - we are really looking forward to getting started,” he explained according to a press release issued by Oman Sail. “We have had superb support from our sponsors Oman Air and

FOCUSED: Oman Air-Musandam’s Sidney Gavignet and Damian Foxall during a press brieﬁng. – Supplied photo

Ministry of Tourism and the whole team during our preparations, in particular Fahad Al Hasni, our best Omani MOD70 sailor who has been shadowing us and supporting us in order to learn as much as possible about two-handed sailing with a view to one day sailing his own campaign and also in order to

take his experience back to Oman to continue to inspire the next generation of sailors,” he added. Tomorrow’s start is a 40 nautical mile prologue for the MOD70 ﬂeet of two, so Oman Air-Musandam, Edmond de Rothschild and the Multi50 ﬂeet will return to the dock in Le Havre after the IM-

OCA 60s and the Class 40s have crossed the start line - destination Itajai, Brasil, 5,450nm across the Atlantic Ocean. The official multihull start is scheduled for later the following week depending on the weather – the goal being to try and group all four classes’ arrival at the ﬁnish.

Between them, the two sailors have raced 38 transatlantics and seven Volvo Ocean Races, including a win each – with ABN AMRO for Sidney in 2005-06 and with Groupama for Damian in 2011-12. Both are candid in saying that racing the 70ft MOD trimaran across the ocean two-handed is

going to be one of the biggest challenges of their careers. “Racing two-handed is tough, very tough and this race has turned into more of a match race between Edmond de Rothschild and ourselves. It will be a question of balancing strategy with tactics and in basic terms keeping a very close eye on the competition,” said Damian. “Sidney and I are both very familiar with our rivals in the MOD class and they with us, we all have very similar backgrounds so it will be very important to get the weather routing right and to maintain our energy levels.” For the ﬁrst time, weather routing is permitted on the TJV for the two MOD70 crews which means the three hour watches, with a 50 minute crossover each time, will be spent mainly on deck rather than down below at the chart table. “We could get two good hours of sleep at one time if we are lucky but the great thing about weather routing is we will be able to keep track of the boats ahead and have a pretty good idea of what weather is to come,” said Gavignet. “The shore-based weather routing will be a critical part of the race,” added Foxall. Gavignet and Foxall are sure of a warm send off from Le Havre, not just by the hundreds of thousands of French spectators who will visit the race village in the run up to the start but also by Undersecretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Chairperson of Oman Sail, Maitha Al Mahrouqi, who is ﬂying in to lend her support to the campaign.

GOLF

MENA Tour comes to Ghala Valley MUSCAT: The MENA Golf Tour travels to Muscat for the inaugural Ghala Valley Open as part of the tour’s ambitious drive to expand the base of golf in the Sultanate and across the region. Supported by the Oman Golf Committee, the 54-hole tournament will be held at the Ghala Valley Golf Club from November 4 to 6, underscoring the growing strength of the tour. Boasting a prize fund of $50,000, the newest showpiece — the ninth and the penultimate stop on the Tour schedule this year – will see a quality ﬁeld battle it for honours before the seasonending MENA Championship where the top 40 professionals and the leading 10 amateurs from their respective Orders of Merit will be seen in action. The tour, which came into being in 2011, has already grown exponentially, expanding its schedule from four events on its schedule in the inaugural year to 10 till date, covering a vast expanse of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region that includes new stops this year in Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar besides the UAE STRONG DEMAND

AMBITIOUS DRIVE: Sheikh Sultan Al Qasimi, chairman of the Arab

Golf Federation, Khalfan Al Kaabi, a member of the Emirates Golf Federation, and Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, at the unveiling of the MENA Tour trophy. – Supplied photo

The primary aim of the tour is to provide emerging players, especially from the region, a platform to play against a competent international ﬁeld. Of particular signiﬁcance is the participation of players, both amateurs and professionals, from the region, especially Morocco, and that has put Arab talent on centre-stage.

Previously, they were competing in regional events, but this tour, in simple words, has ignited their desire to succeed, which is paramount to producing a future generation of champions. Guaranteed spots in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic for the top three professionals and the leading amateur on their respective

orders of merit are the added incentive besides the attractive prize-money for players. The inaugural season in 2011 saw Zane Scotland, Ross Canavan, Peter Richardson and Jake Shepherd — all from England — winning the events, held in the UAE. Shepherd emerged the MENA Tour champion with Morocco’s Ahmed Marjan taking the honours in the amateur division fo the championship. The 2012 edition saw six events, including one in Saudi Arabia, being played with Zane Scotland, Ross McGowan (England), Mohammed Munir (Pakistan), Shaﬁq Masih (Pakistan), Stephen Dodd (Wales) and William Harrold winning one event each. Dodd, a three-time winner on the European Tour, walked away the MENA Tour champion title while Max Williams reigned supreme in the amateur division. Eight events have already been played on this season’s MENA tour with Zane Scotland winning four times and Stephen Dodd twice while Tommy Mou (US) and Lee Corﬁeld (England) took one each.

NEW RESPONSIBILITY

Pace bowler Mills to lead NZ in Sri Lanka WELLINGTON: Swing bowler Kyle Mills will captain New Zealand for the ﬁrst time on his country’s limited overs tour of Sri Lanka later this month after Kane Williamson was ruled out with a broken and dislocated thumb. Williamson suffered the injury in Bangladesh earlier this week and had already returned home for treatment, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said. He had been expected to lead the side for their three one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches in Sri Lanka after NZC decided captain Brendon McCullum and his predecessor Ross Taylor would return home after the Bangladesh tour to prepare for series against West Indies and India. Rob Nicol will replace William-

CRICKET

Revised squad: Kyle Mills (captain), Corey Anderson, Neil Broom, Anton Devcich, Grant Elliott, Andrew Ellis, Tom Latham, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Adam Milne, Colin Munro, James Neesham, Rob Nicol, Luke Ronchi, Hamish Rutherford. - Reuters REPRIMAND

MCG on track for Boxing Day record crowd

India favourite to clinch One-day series decider against Australia

MELBOURNE: All tickets for the opening day of the Ashes Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MSG) have sold, raising the prospect of a world record crowd, Cricket Australia said yesterday. The rush to see Australia face England in the fourth Test has raised the possibility that the official record attendance at a single day of cricket will be smashed, eclipsing the 90,800 who watched Australia’s Test against the West Indies at the MCG in 1961. The maximum capacity at the ground is approximately 100,000, according to its website.

BANGALORE: Indian cricket fans are hoping for an advance Diwali (festival of light) gift by way of India clinching the one-day international (ODI) series against Australia with a victory in the seventh and concluding match here today. The seven-match series between the top two ODI teams is evenly poised at 2-2 with the game at Ranchi abandoned due to rains that also washed out the next match at Cuttack. Indications are that today’s game could be another high-scoring affair with India, enjoying all the advantages of playing at home and a clutch of talented young batsmen, starting out as favourites while the visitors will be without their bowling spearhead Mitchell Johnson who ﬂew home on Thursday to prepare for the forthcoming Ashes series. The four other games saw totals in excess of 300 that accurately reﬂected the dominance of bat over

Still available Tickets have been on sale since October 23, and CA said some were still available for the second, third and fourth days of the Test. The ﬁrst Test starts in Brisbane on November 21. - AFP

son in the squad, while all rounder Andrew Ellis has been called up due to a back injury to Otago bowler Ian Butler. “It’s disappointing that Ian’s back didn’t settle in time for the Sri Lanka tour,” national selection general manager Bruce Edgar said. “We’ll also bring in Otago’s Neil Broom for the ﬁnal ODI and the two T20s as additional cover.” New Zealand’s tour of Sri Lanka begins on November 10 with the ﬁrst ODI in Hambantota.

ball with the bowlers, courtesy the new fielding restrictions and flat pitches, being taken to the cleaners. The fact that bowlers have taken only 52 wickets in nine completed innings reflects the pasting they have received with a total of 2,889 runs being scored. In the event, the batsmen of both teams have revelled in the helpful conditions and there is little reason to believe that it would be anything different here today on the traditionally batsman-friendly pitch at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here. Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, despite the big series-levelling win at Nagpur a couple of days ago, lamented the plight of the bowlers who have less cover in the deep due to the five-fieldersin-the-ring rule that came into effect this season. So much so that among the biggest casualty among the bowlers has been Indian pacer Ishant Sharma who was dropped after the third game as by then he

had conceded 189 runs in just 24 overs while picking up just two wickets. In contrast, the other seamer, Vinay Kumar who might well get to play on his home turf here, has been the pick of the Indian bowlers with seven wickets, though he was omitted for the Nagpur outing as Dhoni opted for a third spinner in Amit Mishra. Thus, while bowling has been a big chink in the Indian armour, so has been the middleorder where neither Suresh Raina nor Yuvraj Singh has ﬁred, scoring just 72 and seven runs, respectively, from ﬁve visits to the crease. Their failures though have not drastically impacted India’s batting with the top-order batsmen Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in top form while Dhoni himself has marked his presence with a century. Kohli, in particular, has been in sublime touch with scores of 61, 100 not out, 68 and 115 not out in

his four outings while Dhawan and Rohit Sharma have virtually cemented their roles as openers. The Aussie batting is not far behind with Dhoni’s counterpart George Bailey — whose roots can be traced to Sri Lanka — enjoying in his debut series as captain a great series with the bat with scores of 85, 92 not out, 43, 98 and 156 while the likes of openers Aaron Finch and Phil Hughes and all-rounder Shane Watson have chipped in at various times. In the bowling department, the Aussies too have suffered as much, though Johnson, with seven wickets in the bag, has always threatened with his pace in excess of 150kmph and bounce. However, his absence Saturday could be to India’s advantage. It is to be expected that both teams would give the pitch a closer look than usual, for the bowling combination could well hold the key to the outcome. - IANS

Clarke pulled up for dissent in Shield tie SYDNEY: Australia captain Michael Clarke has been reprimanded for showing dissent at an umpire’s decision in a Sheffield Shield match, the country’s cricket board said yesterday. The Australian captain was reported on Thursday for using the ‘T’ sign”, the standard gesture to seek a third umpire review, when an on-field official gave the benefit of doubt to a Tasmanian batsman after New South Wales fielders had claimed a low catch at gully. Clarke’s gesture was considered as a minor show of petulance as Shield matches are not televised and a third umpire is not used. “As part of the code of behaviour revisions, if any player uses the ‘T’ sign, in jest or not, it will lead to an automatic report as it shows dissent at the umpire decision,” Cricket Australia said in a statement. - Reuters

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM S ATU RDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2013

MARKE Middle East airlines continue to ﬂy high

SONY CUTS FULL-YEAR PROFIT OUTLOOK Sony slashed its full-year proﬁt outlook, dealing a blow to its much-vaunted turnaround plan. shares plunged more than 11% yesterday >B3

LAUNCH

Middle Eastern carriers continued to

We are seeing a more positive environment for air travel demand, based on rising business confidence, a strong increase in export orders in September, and better performance of key emerging markets like China

show the strongest year-over-year traffic growth at 10.4% and with Saudi Arabia and UAE showing strong growth in other sectors, the trend may continue, says IATA

Times News Service MUSCAT: Middle Eastern carriers continued to show the strongest year-over-year traffic growth at 10.4 per cent. The trend is likely to continue, with economies like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates showing continued strong growth in non-oil producing sectors and robust increases in new export orders, said the International Air Transport Association (IATA), while announcing global passenger traffic results for September. At the global level, IATA said that passenger traffic worldwide showed a continuation of the strong demand trend despite a slight slowdown from August. Total revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) rose 5.5 per cent compared to September 2012. Capacity increased at a slightly lower pace at 5.3 per cent over the same period. September

SLEEK DESIGN: The new Apple iPad Air is thinner than the previ-

Tony Tyler Director general & chief executive officer, IATA

international passenger demand was up 5.7 per cent compared to the same period in 2012. All regions saw demand increase compared to a year ago, it said. “We are seeing a more positive environment for air travel demand, based on rising business conﬁdence, a strong increase in export orders in September, and better performance of key emerging markets like China. The strong growth of recent months, coupled with the continuing improvements in air travel demand in September, suggests that there could be a further acceleration in air travel growth before the end of the year,” said Tony Tyler, IATA director general and the chief executive Asia-Paciﬁc carriers recorded an increase of 8.5 per cent compared to September 2012, the strongest performance among the three biggest regions. Down-

ward pressure on growth during recent past months appears to have eased. Improvement in China’s third quarter GDP growth and Japan’s economy are supporting international air travel on airlines in the region. European carriers European carriers’ international traffic climbed 3.4 per cent in September compared to the year-ago period. Modest economic improvements continue to support growth. Improvements in manufacturing and export activities, and the acceleration in trade growth should help support international air travel demand on European carriers for rest of the year. North American airlines saw demand rise 2.3 per cent over a year ago, a slowdown on the August growth of 5.1 per cent. Capacity growth (3.1 per cent) outpaced

demand. Consumer conﬁdence and business activity has been improving throughout the third quarter. However, there could be some temporary downward pressure in the coming months due to the 17-day US government shutdown. Latin American airlines posted a demand growth of 8.3 per cent in September. While Brazil continues to suffer from rising inﬂation and weakening consumer demand, other economies, such as Colombia, Peru and Chile, are expanding strongly. Capacity grew 6.1 per cent while load factor rose 1.7 percentage points to 80.9 per cent. African airlines’ traffic grew 6.9 per cent compared to September 2012, while capacity rose 7.4 per cent. The strong economic growth in several emerging economies, including Ghana and Nigeria, as well as increased trade activity, is supporting the demand growth.

EMERGING MARKET

Amazon tries free shipping to lure Indians BANGALORE: Free shipping on a 100 rupee ($1.60) book. Delivery times guaranteed to the minute. These are some of the incentives the world’s biggest online retailer Amazon.com is using to entice Indians to shop on the web, a sector where growth has been stiﬂed by payment problems, low Internet usage and a challenging logistics environment. Amazon’s investors are counting on its international business and expansion to help drive growth and support its $165 billion market value, one of the highest among United States ﬁrms. India is Amazon’s third emerg-

ing market investment after Brazil and China, and one vice-president and country manager Amit Agarwal said would take time to pay off. Most Indians do not own a credit card, and less than half the 152 million Internet users have shopped online. Then there are the bad roads, the snarled bureaucracy and the petty bribery that greases business. The potential, however, is vast. Online retail sales in India are forecast to grow more than a hundred-fold to $76 billion by 2021 from just $600 million at the end of 2012, retail consultants Technopak said. E-tail sales in China,

by comparison, are expected to grow to $650 billion by 2020 from around $200 billion in 2012, consultants McKinsey predict. “A lot of invention is required to capture the potential of this market and our focus is to build this,” said Agarwal, who returned to India to head Amazon’s business after 14 years with the company in the United States. Trial-and-error “We are going through a lot of trial-and-error to ﬁx problems on the ground,” he said at Amazon’s India office in the technology hub of Bangalore.

Indians, on average, spend between $24 and $35 per online transaction, a ﬁgure dwarfed by the $150-$160 spent by US shoppers online per transaction, according to data from US based analysts comScore and Retail Decisions. Agarwal spent two years advising Amazon’s founder Jeff Bezos at the company’s Seattle headquarters, and believes Amazon’s long-term strategy will work in India like it did in the US, where the company ran up losses for years. Amazon’s biggest local rival is Flipkart, set up by two ex-Amazon employees in 2007 and which has yet to turn a proﬁt. - Reuters

ous version at around 450gm. Apple also showcased an upgraded Mini that will go on sale later this month. Both feature Apple-designed A7 chip with 64-bit desktop-class architecture. - AFP

New Apple iPad Air is ‘screaming fast’ TOKYO: For one Japanese man, being at the front of a Tokyo queue as the new iPad debuted yesterday was his way of saying ‘thank you’ to Apple after a year that turned his life around. Takaaki Sasaki, who designed an app that became a hit in Japan, was one of hundreds who poured into Apple’s ﬂagship store in the glitzy Ginza district as the doors opened on the latest tablet offering from the sector’s agenda-setter. The launch had little of the razzmatazz of previous iPads or iPhones, with potential customers perhaps swayed by a critical reception that was largely positive but dominated by the theme that the iPad Air was no game-changer. The worldwide rollout kicked off Down Under, with Apple in Australia saying there were queues outside its stores when the doors opened, with several hundred people reportedly lining up outside its ﬂagship Sydney outlet. At the sprawling, three-storey Apple shop in downtown Beijing — the largest Apple store in Asia — each customer was greeted with cheers and applause from around 25 employees in bright blue shirts, with another dozen workers standing ready to give a second round of applause at the cash registers downstairs. In Singapore, Edmond Ong, a spokesman for retailer Epicentre, said sales were muted compared with last year’s iPad launch. “We are not too worried as we still see a steady stream of customers coming in to get the iPad this morning,” he said.

The Air is jostling for buyers’ attention against a burgeoning array of competitor tablets, even as the marketplace explodes. Tablet shipments rise Figures released on Thursday showed worldwide tablet shipments rose by a third to 47.6 million units in the third quarter compared tgo the same period last year, while Apple’s share of the market slid to 29.6 per cent, its lowest ever, technology market research ﬁrm IDC said. The new iPad Air is thinner than the version it replaces, weighs around 450gm (one pound), and is ‘screaming fast’, Apple vicepresident Phil Schiller said at the unveiling in San Francisco on October 23. Apple also showcased an upgraded Mini that will go on sale later this month with a retina display. Both new models feature the Apple-designed A7 chip with 64-bit “desktop-class architecture”, the company said. Damon Darlin in the ‘New York Times’ summed up the feelings of many reviewers, lauding the Air’s lower weight, thinner proﬁle and souped-up operating system. But, he said: “I can’t really tell you to replace your old iPad; the improvements on the new one are incremental, not revolutionary.” - AFP

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S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 3

FEATURE

IT WAS 2008,

Brazil’s economy was in its fifth straight year of robust growth, exports were expanding fast and the government was euphoric about the newly disco-vered oil, billions of barrels of it, just waiting to be mined offshore. Brazil appeared to have arrived on the world stage. And positioning himself to play a decisive role in fulfilling the country’s destiny was a man as big and brash as the new Brazil itself. Billionaire Eike Batista, a flamboyant former powerboat racer with a frenzied sales pitch, predicted his enterprises would make him the world’s richest man. On top of the world, just like Brazil. “I want to surpass Bill Gates in five years,” he told the newspaper O Estado de Sao Paulo that year. “Brazil has to be No. 1.” By last year, his wealth — concentrated in sectors such as oil and shipbuilding that are priorities for Brazil’s economy — was estimated at $34.5 billion, making him the world’s seventh-richest person, according to Forbes Magazine. But what overoptimistic investors and auditors now say they failed to see was that his companies were mostly under construction, loaded with debt, eating up capital and years away from turning a profit. Underneath the glossy surface and Batista’s sunny sales pitch, investors were beginning to panic, and the empire was starting to crumble, just as Brazil’s big economy was foundering. In recent weeks, Batista’s EBX Group — the holding company for his once highflying enterprises — has nearly collapsed as investors abandon the tycoon. As of late last month, Batista, 56, was no longer a billionaire but rather worth about $200 million, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The oil-producing arm of EGX pumps only a few thousand barrels of oil a day, and the ports he envisioned as export gateways lie largely listless. To some, Batista’s tumble is a parable for what is happening to Brazil itself. The country that had been a Wall Street darling from 2003 through 2010 is still

solid economically. But growth has been dreary for nearly three years, demand for commodities is down and its stock market is among the world’s worst performing. An unpopular government also is struggling to placate the simmering discontent that sparked nationwide protests in June against corruption, substandard public services and the kind of cronyism that has benefited well-connected businessmen, including Batista, whose name inspires ire among many Brazilians. “Now reality has set in, and it’s pretty clear that despite the euphoria and optimism, the overconfidence has not treated Brazil all that well,” said Fergus McCormick, who tracks Brazil for the DBRS rating agency in New York. “The repercussions are that it’s settling into a far lower pace of growth, which is not enough to meet expectations.” The outlook, though, was anything but dire as recently as last year for the six intertwined companies under Batista’s command. The flagship was the oil company, OGX, which earlier this year was the country’s No. 2 oil firm by market value. The shipyard OSX was created to build the mammoth platforms needed to pump oil offshore. Batista’s LLX constructed two so-called “super ports” outside Rio that would export commodities the world over. MMX mined for iron ore, and MPX generated electricity. There was even a luxurious Chinese restaurant, Mr. Lam, popular among politicians and captains of industry. Freewheeling and comfortable with the media, Batista in numerous televised interviews characterized himself as a risk-taker but one whose enterprises would generate riches that had few limits in the new Brazil. “We call it idiot-proof assets,” Batista told CNBC in 2011, referring to the companies whose names end in X to signify the multiplication of wealth. The problem was that the oil company OGX, which Batista said would pump 1.4 million barrels a day by 2019, did not deliver, said Julio Bueno, secretary of

economic development for the Rio de Janeiro state, whose governor, Sergio Cabral, has had close ties to Batista. EBX Group, built like an inverted pyramid with OGX serving as the base, began to feel the tremors. “We all know what happened — the truth was there was a super overvaluation,” Bueno said, noting the immediate effects on Batista’s shipbuilding and port-development branches. “That led the market, which had overestimated his company, to lose credibility in the EBX Group.” In a recent lengthy article for two leading newspapers here, Batista apologized to those who had bet on his companies. He said he had invested $4 billion of his own money in his X firms. “Who most lost with the fall in value of OGX was one shareholder: Eike Batista,” he wrote. Batista also said that auditors were partly to blame for having estimated that OGX had 10.8 billion barrels of oil to extract. “I profoundly lament not having confirmed the forecasts,” he said. But here in Rio, where he was once a staple in the society pages, Batista is seen as having inflated the value of his companies. An executive who worked with Batista described him as decisive and “probably the best salesman I have ever seen in my whole life.” But the executive also said Batista didn’t like to hear bad news, leading underlings to issue overly rosy prospects. “He’s very good at creating things and having ideas,’” said the former colleague, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the delicate nature of his comments. “But Eike never, ever operated something in his life.” The executive added: “What he does is he sells the future, he sells ideas.” Those ideas, though, and Batista’s larger-than-life story, found an eager audience. Though raised in affluence, the son of a former mining minister, Batista wrote in his autobiography of an almost primal need to make it on his own. In his 20s, he braved malaria and a notoriously unstable economy to find gold in the Amazon,

IS THIS BRAZILIAN TYCOON MERELY SPEAKING WITH A FORKED TONGUE? BUT IN RIO, WHERE EIKE BATISTA WAS ONCE A STAPLE IN THE SOCIETY PAGES, HE IS SEEN AS HAVING INFLATED THE VALUE OF HIS COMPANIES

eventually making his first $1 billion. He wrote that his 30-year career was marked by “challenges overcome, success and a proven record of meeting commitments.” And it wasn’t just investors who believed him. The government of President Dilma Rousseff — and before her, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva — saw Batista as a new kind of business mogul who could spearhead the development of vital sectors: oil, shipbuilding, ports and logistics. “He became strategically important for the government,” said Roberto Moraes, a researcher at the Federal Fluminense Institute here who studies Batista’s companies. “Brazil really didn’t have a national player to invest in these areas. So they bet on him, no matter how flamboyant or how much of a selfpromoter he was.” For Batista, that translated into licenses for vast projects, like the Porto do Acu — the Acu Port — which led to the displacement of hundreds of people. The government’s development bank, BNDES, also provided Batista’s companies with $4.7 billion in loans, which has sparked criticism here. “There was a loosening of regulations leading to loans,” said Cesar Colnago, a congressman from Brazil’s main opposition party who has been pressing for BNDES to reveal how much of the loans are outstanding. Moraes, the researcher, said much of Batista’s empire still could thrive. There are two ports that could take off once Brazil’s economy bounces back. The oil company also could strike a big find or be rescued by deep-pocketed investors But Moraes believes Batista will have to sell. “It’s hard to believe that the whole pyramid will fall and nothing will survive,” Moraes said. “But what is clear to me is that Eike won’t be there.” With bankruptcy looming, Batista says he is restructuring and predicts a comeback. “Each day,” he wrote in his newspaper article, “my head simmers with new ideas that are born from nothing and take shape, little by little.” — Washington Post-Bloomberg News

S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 , 2 01 3

MARKET ACQUISITION

AT&T exploring possibilities of Vodafone takeover LONDON: AT&T executives are laying the groundwork internally for a potential takeover of Vodafone Group next year, mapping out a strategy for a complex deal with Europe’s largest mobile carrier, people familiar with the situation said. While the companies haven’t entered formal negotiations, the largest United States phone company is intensifying work on which Vodafone assets it would retain after a deal and who could buy others, the people said, declining to be identiﬁed. AT&T, which remains interested in UK carrier EE as an alternative target, is also formulating a strategy for Vodafone’s operations in Europe, where mobile broadband adoption has lagged the US, the people said. A merger, which would create the world’s largest telecommuni-

cations operator by sales, wouldn’t be AT&T’s ﬁrst attempt at combining the companies. AT&T approached Verizon Communications this year about a transaction in which AT&T would buy Vodafone’s European operations, with Verizon taking over their wireless joint-venture and America Movil SAB taking much of the rest, two of the people said. Verizon rejected that approach as too complex and likely to slow its own $130 billion purchase of Vodafone’s 45 per cent stake in Verizon Wireless, they said. Easy decision “Buying Vodafone seems like an easy decision for AT&T given the value of their stock and the stilllow interest rates,” said Walt Piecyk, an analyst with BTIG in New York. Still, while Europe might of-

GLOBAL BEHEMOTH Combined, Vodafone and AT&T would be a globe-spanning telecommunications player with a market capitalisation exceeding $250bn and large-scale operations in the US and across Europe. With over 500m wireless subscribers worldwide, the company would be able to challenge Google and Apple when negotiating handset subsidies

fer some expansion opportunities, AT&T can’t afford to take its eye off the US market where competition is heating up, he said. Combined, Vodafone and AT&T would be a globe-spanning telecommunications player with a market capitalisation exceeding $250 billion and large-scale operations in the US and across Europe. With more than 500 million wireless subscribers worldwide, the company

Sony slashes proﬁt outlook Shares tumbled more than 11% after the Japanese electronics giant cut its fullyear proﬁt forecast, dealing a blow to its much-vaunted

DIFFICULT TIMES: Sony chief Kazuo Hirai has shrugged off pleas

turnaround plan

to abandon the television unit, while the ﬁrm has also turned down a call by US hedge fund boss Daniel Loeb to spin off 20 per cent of its entertainment arm. – Bloomberg News

TOKYO: Sony shares plunged more than 11 per cent yesterday after the Japanese electronics giant slashed its full-year profit outlook, dealing a blow to its muchvaunted turnaround plan. The stock finished at ¥1,668 in Tokyo, a day after Sony cut its earnings forecast for the year to March by 40 per cent due to tepid demand for its digital cameras, personal computers and televisions. It also pointed to a weakerthan-expected performance in its film business because of box office flops such as White House Down and After Earth. On Thursday, the maker of Bravia televisions and PlayStation games consoles said it lost ¥15.8 billion ($160 million) in the six months to September and cut its full-year profit outlook to ¥30 billion from ¥50 billion. Before the tumble, Sony stock had nearly doubled since January as it rode a strong rally. “Conditions are harsher than what we had anticipated,” Sony chief financial officer Masaru Kato told reporters on Thursday. The weak results prompted a

“Another round of major cost cutting is a distinct possibility.” The agency downgraded Sony last year, cutting its credit rating to junk for the ﬁrst time while doing the same to rival Panasonic.

A more aggressive reform to revamp the company’s product portfolio and to cut fixed costs may be required Fitch report warning from some analysts that the firm may have to slash its business further to climb back into the black. A “more aggressive reform to revamp the company’s product portfolio and to cut fixed costs may be required,” ratings agency Fitch warned in a report Friday, and said it was considering a credit rating downgrade.

Painful restructuring Fitch and other global ratings agencies have been slashing their ratings on the sector as they pointed to weak balance sheets and a declining position in the global electronics market. Hiroichi Nishi, SMBC Nikko Securities general manager of equities, said Sony’s slimmed down forecast was not a complete shock, but “the negative news came just when the overall market was weak”. Japan’s electronics giants, including Sony rivals Panasonic and Sharp, have been undergoing painful restructuring to stem years of losses as they struggle to keep up in the low-margin television business. Apple and South Korea’s Samsung surged ahead of their Japanese rivals in the lucrative smartphone sector. - AFP

would be able to challenge Google and Apple when negotiating handset subsidies and wringing proﬁt out of nascent technologies such as mobile advertising. Any transaction would have to wait for the conclusion of Vodafone’s sale of its Verizon Wireless stake, which the companies expect to close in early 2014. AT&T may ultimately decide not to proceed with a bid, the people said.

Simon Gordon, a spokesman for Newbury, England-based Vodafone, declined to comment on the company’s interest in a sale to AT&T or anyone else yesterday. Brad Burns, a spokesman for Dallas-based AT&T, declined to comment on the company’s European plans. Vodafone shares rose as much as 2.5 per cent in London, and traded up 2.2 per cent. AT&T fell less than 1 per cent in New York yesterday to $36.20. Vodafone CEO’s plans Bob Varettoni, a spokesman for New York-based Verizon, also declined to comment. A representative for America Movil didn’t respond to a request for comment. Vodafone chief executive officer Vittorio Colao is in principle open to a deal, depending on its terms, one of the people said. A former McKinsey consultant, Colao is

nonetheless formulating a standalone strategy for Vodafone that could include major new deals in landline telecommunications. The company had almost 13 billion pounds ($21 billion) in cash and short-term investments at the end of March, a number that doesn’t include its windfall from the Verizon Wireless stake sale. Orange, the French company that operates in African countries including Kenya and Senegal, has expressed interest in buying some of Vodafone’s African operations, according to a person familiar with the matter. - Bloomberg News

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PRIMARY MARKET

Twitter gets more than enough demand to sell shares in IPO NEW YORK: Twitter has attracted more than enough demand to sell all of the shares in its initial public offering (IPO), people with knowledge of the matter said. Banks managing Twitter’s market debut were getting sufficient interest from investors for the IPO to be oversubscribed even before they started taking orders, said one of the people, who asked not to be identiﬁed because the information is private. The microblogging site is offering 70 million shares for $17 to $20 each, according to regulatory ﬁlings. Twitter, which is scheduled to price the shares November 6 and start trading the next day, could increase the amount it is offering or the price before going public, depending on demand. Chief executive officer Dick Costolo has been visiting major United States cities to meet investors to drum up interest for the stock. “They originally priced the shares low enough to pique interest like this,” said Santosh Rao, an analyst at Greencrest Capital Management in New York. “I think they’ll likely raise the price at least once. We’ve seen this before with Facebook — everyone wants a piece of these hot technol-

ogy companies.” Gabriel Stricker, a spokesman for Twitter, declined to comment. San Francisco-based Twitter is seeking as much as $1.4 billion in its offering, compared with the $16 billion Facebook raised in its record sale for an Internet company in May 2012, data compiled shows. Final pricing Twitter is attracting robust interest even though Costolo and his managers haven’t discussed plans for the company to break even, according to people with knowledge

of discussions that took place at two road show meetings this week. At the top of the current price range, Twitter would be valued at $10.9 billion. In the US, companies typically spend one to two weeks before going public meeting with investors face to face. Investment bankers take orders for shares during the period, which culminates in a ﬁnal pricing before the shares start trading publicly. Goldman Sachs is leading the offering, working with Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase. - Bloomberg News

S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 3

MARKET RBS avoids break-up with £38b ‘bad bank’ The government, which owns 81% of RBS and stopped short of ordering a break-up of the bank, said the move would also stimulate lending in the UK

LONDON: Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is to create an internal ‘bad bank’ to fence off its riskiest assets, part of a raft of measures designed to heal its relationship with the British government and speed up its eventual privatisation. “I think it does make it easier to sell off the bank and get our money back,” Finance Minister George Osborne told BBC radio, adding that a sell-off was unlikely to begin before the next election in 2015. The government, which owns 81 per cent of RBS and stopped short of ordering a break-up of the bank, said the move would also stimulate lending in the UK. RBS said yesterday it would put £38 billion ($61 billion) of loans into a new ‘capital resolution division’ next year, which would free up £10-£11 billion of capital. The bank aims to run down between 55 per cent and 70 per cent of the assets over the next two years, and hopes to remove all the assets from its balance sheet. The bank said Britain’s ﬁnancial watchdog has made it clear in recent months it expects banks to hold more capital, making it more important to sell or run down its bad assets. RBS and the government said the plan would draw a line under the past. The government has been accused of meddling too much in the running of the bank, and RBS’s new chief executive Ross McEwan told reporters the review had ‘taken up far too much of management’s time’. “We can now go on, focus on the future and focus on 90 per cent of

RESTRUCTURING: Ross McEwan, the new chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland, said the restruc-

turing would reset the bank’s relationship with the Treasury, Britain’s ﬁnancial regulator and UK Financial Investments, which runs the government’s stake. – Bloomberg News

RBS said yesterday it would put £38b of loans into a new ‘capital resolution division’ next year, which would free up £10-£11b of capital. The bank aims to run down between 55% and 70% of the riskiest assets over the next two years, and hopes to remove all the assets from its balance sheet

the assets that make up a really good bank and on building a great bank for customers and for the UK,” he said. Impairment charge McEwan said the restructuring would reset the bank’s relationship with the Treasury, Britain’s ﬁnancial regulator and UK Financial Investments (UKFI), which runs the government’s stake. The faster run-down of assets will accelerate and increase losses on the loans, and the bank expects to take an extra impairment charge of between £4 billion and £4.5 billion in the current quarter, it said. Shares in RBS were down 3.7

per cent at 354 pence at 0848 GMT, while European banking shares were broadly ﬂat. Critics of the internal bad bank say it is not much different to the bank’s existing non-core run-down programme, which currently houses £45 billion of problem loans and was expected to still have £20 billion in 2016. One of RBS’s biggest 10 private investors said the restructuring was a ‘cosmetic exercise’. “The bad bank is internal. An external bad bank would have been very different. RBS already has an internal bad bank, so it’s just a question of moving some assets into it, shuffling loans around

the disclosures, nothing really changes,” the shareholder said. RBS said it now plans to hold a core capital ratio of about 11 per cent by the end of 2015 and 12 per cent a year later, which is 3 percentage points above its current position. “I want to dispel any suggestions that RBS is travelling light on capital,” McEwan said. It will accelerate the divestment of Citizens, its US retail bank, with a partial initial public offering (IPO) planned for next year. RBS said it was co-operating with various governments and regulators investigating foreign-exchange trading activities by several banks and is reviewing communications and procedures “relating to certain currency exchange benchmark rates as well as foreign exchange trading activity”. McEwan said it had suspended two traders in its foreign exchange division. But he said the bank would ‘come down severely’ on anyone who had broken rules. - Reuters

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M A R K E T WAT C H

Indian stocks hit a new high, beat Jan 2008 peak MUMBAI: Indian shares jumped to their highest-ever trading level Friday, beating the previous record set in 2008, fuelled by strong foreign fund inflows and an easing of both global and domestic economic concerns. The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex hit a new high of 21,293.88 points in morning trade on Dhanteras day, part of the five-day Hindu festival of lights called Diwali. The index’s previous intraday record high was 21,206.77 points on January 10, 2008. The Sensex retraced later on profit taking to end at a new record close of 21,196.81 points. Sentiment has been improving across Asian markets over hopes that the US central bank may delay plans to start tapering its massive stimulus programme. India’s market has been sluggish for most of 2013, due to an outflow of foreign funds over fears of an end to the US programme, while the country’s slowing economic growth, weak rupee and high trade deficit also weighed. But with global and domestic fears beginning to ease, investments are starting to flow in again. Foreign funds pumped $2.55 billion into Indian equities in October, taking their total purchases to $16.48 billion for 2013, regulatory figures showed yesterday. “This rally has been fuelled by an avalanche of global liquidity into emerging markets, after the reprieve by the US Fed as far as the US tapering plan goes,” said Ajay Bodke, head investment strategist with Mumbai brokerage Prabhudas Lilladher. Local sentiment improves Local sentiment has improved as several Indian firms, including IT and auto giants, have reported better-than-expected earnings data for the September-ended quarter. India’s Finance Minister P Chidambaram yesterday warned investors against ‘excessive exuberance’ despite being confident that the country’s current account deficit may narrow, as exports improve and investments into India rise. “The markets seem to be happy but I would caution investors against excessive exuberance,” Chidambaram told reporters in New Delhi.

Rupee dips again MUMBAI: The rupee dropped further by 24 paise to close at morethan two-week low of 61.74 against the US dollar following sustained dollar demand from importers and a firm dollar overseas. The demand from importers, mainly oil refiners, was so strong that firm local equities and heavy capital inflows failed to stem the rupee fall, a forex dealer said. At the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) market, the local unit commenced sharply lower at 61.95 a dollar from last close of 61.50 and immediately touched a low of 61.96. Later, it rebounded on firm domestic stocks and late dollar selling by exporters to a high of 61.70 before settling at 61.74, still showing a fall of 24 paise or 0.39 per cent. On Thursday, it was down by 27 paise or 0.44 per cent. - PTI

Chidambaram said he was confident that India’s current account deficit — the broadest measure of trade — could be contained at $60 billion this fiscal, from an earlier figure of $70 billion. The appointment in September of renowned economist Raghuram Rajan as India’s new central bank governor also appears to have helped sentiment, analysts say. India recorded five per cent growth last year, the slowest in a decade, and far below the levels of eight to nine perc ent that it enjoyed in recent years. Economists remain concerned over the stability of rupee. - AFP

FOURTH-QUARTER

Economists cut US growth forecast on 16-day shutdown WASHINGTON: The United States economy will probably expand at a 2 per cent annualised rate in the final three months of the year, less than economists projected at the start of the budget impasse that resulted in a 16day government shutdown. The median projection of 71 economists surveyed compares to a 2.4 per cent forecast in an October 4-9 survey. Gross domestic product, the sum of all goods and services produced in the nation, will accelerate to a 2.6 per cent growth rate in the first three months of 2014, unchanged from the previous survey, economists said. Fourth-quarter GDP will reflect a decline in government output, estimated by the number of hours put in by federal workers, as well as cutbacks at contractors. Growth will pick up in the first quarter as the economy recovers from any shutdown- induced pause in business and consumer purchases. “If you have a shutdown and people in the government aren’t

working, there’s an automatic effect on GDP,” said Lewis Alexander, chief economist at Nomura Securities International in New York. The negative effects of the budget negotiations on business and consumer spending will subside in the first quarter, he said, unless there’s “a repeat of the brinkmanship we saw in October, even without a shutdown.” Data collection Alexander projects 1.9 per cent growth in the final three months, before a pickup to 2.6 per cent in the first quarter. Economists at Nomura had estimated a 2.7 per cent rate for both quarters in the previous survey. The decline in hours worked by government employees probably shaved 0.2 percentage point to 0.3 percentage point from growth in the current quarter, according to Nomura. The first of three reports on third-quarter growth, originally scheduled for release earlier this week, is now due Nov. 7 as the

shutdown kept federal agencies from collecting data. The median estimate in a preliminary survey of economists calls for a 1.9 percent rate in the three months ended September. The US expanded at a 2.5 per cent annualised pace in the second quarter. The postponement of the government’s data releases has made it difficult for economists to gauge the economy’s progress. The shutdown probably inhibited what was already a sluggish pace of growth at the end of the third quarter, said Michael Feroli, chief US economist at JPMorgan Chase in New York. “It looks like September wasn’t a great month, and that was preshutdown, so I think things are just kind of so-so minus the shutdown,” Feroli said. JPMorgan economists forecast 2 per cent growth this quarter and 2.5 per cent at the start of 2014. Feroli also estimates 0.25 percentage point will be trimmed from fourth-quarter GDP. - Bloomberg News

B SECTION

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM S AT URDAY, NOVE M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 3

T C E R I D L A I N A R C S

TRAN

N O I T A L U M I T CURRENT S

hether it’s hitting a golf ball, playing the piano or speaking a foreign language, becoming really good at something requires practice. Repetition creates neural pathways in the brain, so the behaviour eventually becomes more automatic and outside distractions have less impact. It’s called being in the zone. But what if you could establish the neural pathways that lead to virtuosity more quickly? That is the promise of transcranial direct current stimulation, or tDCS - the passage of very lowlevel electrical current through targeted areas of the brain. Several studies conducted in medical and military settings indicate tDCS may bring improvements in cognitive function, motor skills and mood. Some experts suggest that tDCS might be useful in the rehabilitation of patients suffering from neurological and psychological disorders, perhaps even in reducing the time and expense of training healthy people to master a skill. But the research is preliminary, and now there is concern about a growing do-

it-yourself community, many of them video gamers, who are making tDCS devices with 9-volt batteries to essentially jumpstart their brains.“If tDCS is powerful enough to do good, you have to wonder if, done incorrectly, it could cause harm,” said Dr H. Branch Coslett, chief of the cognitive neurology section at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and a coauthor of studies showing that tDCS improves recall of proper names, fosters creativity and improves reading efficiency. Even the tDCS units used in research are often little more than a 9-volt battery with two electrodes and a controller for setting the current and the duration of the session. Several YouTube videos show how to make a rough facsimile. “I’m stimulating my parietal lobes right now because I ran across some research that it increases mathematical abilities,” says a user in one such video, in which he appears with wires from a homemade tDCS device sprouting from his head. The video ends with him claiming to have improved his score in an online math game,

Low-level electric current offers promise, and potential perils, as a way to stimulate the brain although he reports feeling a little “wobbly” after removing the electrodes. Others seeking a cognitive edge are rushing to buy a readymade version called Foc.us, which costs $249. A sort of futuristic-looking headband with button-size electrodes, Foc. us is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and the London-based manufacturer does not make any medical claims. But fans posting on the tDCS forum on Reddit claim the device improves reaction time, mood, computational ability and memory. Available online since May, the device was sold out of its ﬁrst production run of 3,000 in less than a month. “The response has been overwhelming,” said Michael Oxley, a mechanical

engineer who is the company’s founder and president. Low-level electrical stimulation is thought to lower the threshold at which neurons ﬁre, priming the brain to learn and retain information. Delivering 0.1 per cent of the charge used in electroconvulsive therapy, which actually forces neurons to ﬁre en masse, tDCS in clinical settings is generally recognised as safe. About 30 clinics offer the treatment in the United States for various brain and neurological disorders, usually in a research context. Itching and redness under the electrodes are the most common side effects. Still, brain researchers warn that people who try experiments with homemade or Foc. us devices are risking injury.

There is little data on the longterm use of tDCS, and some experts worry is that in addition to serious external burns, people who self-administer could permanently damage their brains, impairing cognitive and motor function in subtle and not-sosubtle ways. “What makes me very nervous about the Foc.us and homemade tDCS devices is the intensity and duration of current people are getting,” said Dr Michael Weisend, a cognitive neuroscientist at Wright State Research Institute in Beaver Creek, Ohio, who conducts tDCS research for the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Air Force. “We have zero data on long-term use on anybody’s brain, and I have scars to prove that you can burn yourself pretty badly with tDCS.” In the lab, researchers have been careful to place electrodes precisely in order to stimulate particular brain regions. Home users are likelier to guess by taking a quick look at an anatomy book. And the research experiments usually include instruction on how to perform the tasks.

“It’s not black magic,” said Dr Roi Cohen Kadosh, a neuropsychologist and co-author of the University of Oxford study. “tDCS needs to be coupled with adequate cognitive training.” Kadosh also warned that electrically juicing one area of the brain might degrade function in another part. “What we’ve found is brain power is like a blanket,” he said. “You pull it over to one side and something else is not covered.” Because studies have shown that tDCS may be useful in treating people debilitated by stroke, Parkinson’s disease, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, clinicians fear that in addition to competitive healthy people, severely compromised people may be tempted to experiment with brain stimulation at home. “There’s a growing body of literature about tDCS, but there’s still so much to learn,” said Dr Sarah Lisanby, a psychiatrist and director of the brain stimulation and neurophysiology division at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina. — Kate Murphy/The New York Times News Service

S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 3

ENTERTAINMENT CINEMA SCHEDULE

BAHJA CINEMA Krrish 3 (Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi) (PG) Cast: Hritish Roshan, Priyanka Chopra 12:30, 4:15, 8:30pm; CP No: 1021 Captain Phillips (Action/Adventure/ Biography) (PG) Cast: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi 3:30, 6:00, 9:00, 11:30pm; CP No: 1005 Escape From Planet Earth 3D (Animation/Adventure/Comedy) (PG) Voice Overs: Brendan Fraser, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Alba 12:30, 2:15, 4:00, 5:45pm; CP No: 1011 Maximum Conviction (Action/ Adventure/Thriller) (12+) Cast: Steven Seagal, Steve Austin 7:30, 11:30pm; CP No: 998 Enders Game (Action/Adventure/SciFi) (PG) Cast: Harrison Ford, Asa Butterﬁeld 9:30, 11:45pm; CP No: 992 1911 Revolution (Action /Adventure) Cast: Jackie Chan, Winston Chao and Bingbing L 2:00pm; CP No: 965 Djinn (Arabic) (Horror/Thriller) (12+) Cast: Aiysha Hart, Razane Jamaal 7:15pm; CP No: 1002

Gravity 3D (Drama/Sci-ﬁ /Thriller) 6:00pm; CP No: 966 Captain Phillips (Action/Adventure / Biography) (PG) 11:00pm CP No: 1006 Krrish 3 (Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi) (PG) 3:00 & 8:00pm; CP No: 1022

PLAZA 3 Krrish 3 (Action/Adventure/ Sci-Fi) (PG) Cast: Hritish Roshan, Priyanka Chopra and Kangana Ranaut 3:45, 6:45, 9:45pm CP No: 1026

Captain Phillips (Action/Adventure/ Biography) (PG) Cast: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirehman 6:15, 9:15 & 11:45pm; CP No: 1006 Krrish 3 (Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi) (PG) Cast: Hritish Roshan, Priyanka Chopra, Kangana Ranaut 12:15, 3:15 & 8:45pm; CP No: 1022 Escape From Planet Earth 3D (Animation/Comedy) (PG) Voice Overs: Brendan Fraser, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Alba 11:30am, 1:30, 3:30 & 5:15pm; CP No: 1012 Enders Game (Action/Adventure/SciFi) (PG) Cast: Harrison Ford, Asa Butterﬁeld, Hailee Steinfeld 7:00 & 11:45pm; CP No: 993

Captain Phillips (Action/Adventure/ Biography) (PG) Cast: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi 3:30, 6:15, 9:00 & 11:45pm; CP No: 1008

Captain Phillips (Action/Adventure/ Biography) (PG) Cast: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi 2:30, 6:45, 9:15 & 11:45pm; CP No: 1007 Maximum Conviction (Action/ Adventure/Thriller) (12+) Cast: Steven Seagal, Steve Austin 3:00, 5:00pm; CP No: 1000 Krrish 3 (Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi) (PG) Cast: Hritish Roshan, Priyanka Chopra 3:00, 8:00, 10:45pm; CP No: 1023 Kalbi Daleeli (Arabic) (Romance/ Comedy) (TBA) Cast: Sameh Hussain, Mai Kasab 6:00pm CP No: 1016 1911 Revolution (Action/Adventure/ Drama) (12+) Cast: Jackie Chan, Winston Chao 5:00pm CP No: 967 Enders Game (Action/Adventure/ Sci-Fi) (PG) Cast: Harrison Ford, Asa Butterﬁeld, Hailee Steinfeld 7:15 & 9:30pm CP No: 994 Djinn (Arabic) (Horror/Thriller) (12+) Cast: Aiysha Hart, Razane Jamaal, Khalid Laith

PLAZA 1 Krrish 3 (Action/Adventure/ Sci-Fi) (PG) Cast: Hritish Roshan, Priyanka Chopra and Kangana Ranaut 3:30, 6:30 & 9:30pm CP No: 1026 PLAZA 2 Krrish 3 (Action/Adventure/ Sci-Fi) (PG) Cast: Hritish Roshan, Priyanka Chopra and Kangana Ranaut 3:45, 6:45 & 9:45pm CP No: 1026

2:30 & 11:45pm CP No: 1004 Arrambam (Tamil) (Action/Drama) (TBA) Cast: Ajith Kumuar, Aarya, Nayanthara 4:30, 7:30 & 10:30pm; CP No: 1019

Krrish 3 (Action/Adventure/ Sci-Fi) (PG) Cast: Hritish Roshan, Priyanka Chopra and Kangana Ranaut 3:15, 6:00, 9:00, 11:00pm; CP No: 1024 Enders Game (Action/Adventure/SciFi) (PG) Cast: Harrison Ford, Asa Butterﬁeld and Hailee Steinfeld 3:00, 5:00, 9:00, 11:30pm; CP No: 995 Kalbi Daleeli (Arabic) (Romance/ Comedy) (TBA) Cast: Sameh Hussain, Mai Kasab and Ahmed Zaher 7:00pm; CP No: 1017

Captain Phillips (Action/Adventure/ Biography) Cast: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi and Barkhad Abdirehman 6:00, 7:00 & 11:45pm; CP No: 1009

Krrish 3 (Action/Adventure/ Sci-Fi) (PG) Cast: Hritish Roshan, Priyanka Chopra and Kangana Ranaut 3:00, 8:30, 11:30pm; CP No: 1025 Enders Game (Action/Adventure/SciFi) (PG) Cast: Harrison Ford, Asa Butterﬁeld and Hailee Steinfeld 3:00, 5:00 & 9:30pm; CP No: 996

Krrish 3 (Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi) (PG) Cast: Hritish Roshan, Priyanka Chopra 11:30am, 3:00, 8:15, 11:15pm; CP No: 1026 Enders Game (Action/Adventure/SciFi) (PG) Cast: Harrison Ford, Asa Butterﬁeld, Hailee Steinfeld 12:00, 6:00 & 11:30pm CP No: 997 Escape From Planet Earth 3D (Animation/Adventure) (PG) CP No: 1014 Voice Overs: Brendan Fraser, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Alba 11:30am, 1:30, 3:30, 5:30pm Kalbi Daleeli (Arabic) (Romance/ Comedy) (TBA) CP No: 1018 Cast: Sameh Hussain, Mai Kasab 7:30pm Captain Phillips (Action/Adv) (PG) Cast: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirehman 5:00, 9:30, 11:45pm; CP No: 1010 Arrambam (Tamil) (Action/Drama) (TBA) Cast: Ajith Kumuar, Aarya, Nayanthara 5:30, 8:30pm; CP No: 1020

Enders Game (Action/Adventure/SciFi) (PG) CP No: 1262 Cast: Harrison Ford, Asa Butterﬁeld, Hailee Steinfeld 4:00, 6:00, 10:00 & 11:55pm Maximum Conviction (Action/ Adventure/Thriller) (12+) CP No: 1261 Cast: Steven Seagal, Steve Austin, Michael Pare 11:55pm Escape Plan (Action /Mystery /Thriller) (12+) Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Shwarzenegger, 50 Cent 2:00 & 8:00pm; CP No: 1174 (12+) 1911 Revolution (Action/Adv/Drama) Cast: Jackie Chan, Winston Chao and Bingbing Li 2:00 & 6:00pm; CP No: 1199 (12+) No: 1199 (12+)

Film Information - 24540856 / Advance Booking - 24540855 Website: www.albahjacinema.net

STARS CINEMA Film information 24791641 / 24786776 Aarrambam (Tamil) (Action) Cast: Ajit Kumar, Arya, Nayantara, Tapsee 3:30, 6:30 & 9:30pm (Cinema Main) Sringara Velan (Mal) (Comedy/ Romance) CP No: 1213 Cast: Dileep, Vedhika, Lal, Baburaj, Ambika Mohan 3:45, 6:45 & 9:45pm (Cinema 2) Bhai (Telugu) (Action/Comedy) CP No: 1215 Cast: Nagarjuna, Gangopadayay, Sonu Sood and Kamna 3:45, 6:45 & 9:45pm (Cinema 3) Davathinte Swantham Cleetus (Mal) Cast: Mammootty, Honey Rose & Aju 3:45, 6:45 & 9:45pm (Cinema 4)

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

ACES ON BRIDGE

With one fewer card, it would be easier

SUDOKU

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

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

8 9 2 6 3 4

4 3 1 5 7 9

6 5 7 2 8 1

7 8 3 4 9 2

9 1 5 7 6 3

2 6 4 1 5 8

5 4 8 9 1 7

3 7 9 8 2 6

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

MARMADUKE

CROSSWORD

B I G NAT E

ACROSS 1 No. 4 Ducommun or Abel 8 Tearoom 12 Senorita’s aunt 13 Warrior princess 14 — Khayyam 15 Stubborn stains (2 wds.) 17 Ephron of “You’ve Got Mail” 18 Turkish title 19 Artists’ lifeworks 21 Ms. Merkel 23 Not sm. or med. 24 Excited (2 wds.) 28 Serpent Hercules fought 32 Pursue romantically 33 Corpulent 35 Sharp bark 36 And so 39 Easygoing 42 Once possessed 44 Tumbler’s pad 45 Picked up the tab 49 Reverse and ﬁrst 53 Slashes

54 56 57 58 59 60 61

Musher’s dog Toward shelter — — even keel Grassy expanse Begged Nautilus skipper Summer hrs.

DOWN 1 Ear cleaner (hyph.) 2 “Private Dancer” singer 3 Ties up the phone 4 Get bigger 5 Durocher or Tolstoy 6 Gung-ho 7 Three-legged stand 8 Transport 9 Love, in Madrid 10 Meter reading 11 Important decades 16 “Soapdish” actress 20 Yech! 22 — Wiedersehen 24 Elec. measure 25 Want-ad letters 26 Hither and —

27 29 30 31 34 37 38 40 41

Sidekick Batik need Turned chicken Appropriate Pro — (for the time being) Went after Absorb, as costs Japanese city Gossip tidbit

43 45 46 47 48 50

Exorcist’s quarry Pitfall Tiny stream Fencing weapon Guy like Hamlet New Year’s Eve word 51 66 and I-35 52 Kind of belt 55 Flee hastily

Answer to previous puzzle

BRIDGE can be a strange game at times. Usually, you are happy to have lots of honours, but occasionally you would find a contract much easier if it weren’t for an unnecessary high card. Do not resist the idea that an honour may be extraneous. In this deal, South is in four spades. West leads the club king. How should South plan the play? South starts with four potential losers: one heart, one diamond and two clubs. He has nine winners; six spades, one heart, one diamond and one club. So it seems as if the diamond finesse had better be winning. In theory, this is a 50-50 shot, but surely you know that finesses never work on Mondays! And if the diamond finesse is failing, is there any other way to make the contract? How about trying to establish dummy’s diamond suit? As long as the suit is splitting 3-3 or 4-2 (or 5-1 with a singleton king) and trumps are not 4-0, an extra diamond winner can be established. South should take the first or second club, play a trump to his king, cash the diamond ace, and continue with the diamond queen. Suppose West takes that trick, cashes two club winners and shifts to a heart. Declarer wins on the board, ruffs a diamond high in his hand, leads a trump to dummy’s jack, ruffs another diamond high, returns to dummy with a spade and cashes the diamond eight — bingo. The probability for this line is approximately 78 per cent — much better than a finesse. And without the superfluous diamond queen in his hand, South would have seen this line immediately. — By Phillip Alder

1 2 6 3 4 5

BORN LOSER

WITH LOVE

AARUNI KRISHNA KUMAR

SHEJI MATHEW

November 2, 2008

November 2, 2005

MEHITH P. SHETTY

ABDULLAH

November 1, 2010

November 1, 2003

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

KIDSPOT

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

S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 , 2 01 3

PRAYER TIMINGS

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

Y O U R B I R T H D AY

BORN today, you are strong in your beliefs and principles, and you will remain true to them even when they bring you face-to-face with obstacles that are difficult to overcome. It is likely that you will have at least one “nemesis” during your lifetime, and most of your best efforts will be designed to give yourself the advantage over this strong and able rival. You know how to put together a good plan, but what is even more remarkable is that you usually know how to push it forward in such a way that you maximise your chances for success. You know how to laugh, and you will always laugh at those who take themselves too seriously. In fact, there is nothing funnier to you than someone who is self-involved; you consider such individuals to be clowns, and their behaviour an all-too-common fuel for laughter and derision. Also born on this date are: Shere Hite, author and researcher; Ann Rutherford, actress; Marie Antoinette, French queen; k.d. lang, singer; Stefanie Powers, actress; Burt Lancaster, actor; Daniel Boone, frontiersman; Ray Walston,

11.55pm 3.09pm 5.33pm 6.45pm 4.56am

Sunset Sunrise (Tomorrow)

5.28pm 6.13am

High tide Low tide

7.55am 2.09am

8.25pm 1.57pm

FIND-IT-ALL

W E AT H E R

AIRLINES

ainly clear skies over most of the Sultanate with chances of convective clouds development with isolated rain over Al Hajar mountains during afternoon and chances of early morning fog patches over governorates of south Al Sharqiyah and Al Wusta. EXPECTED WINDS: Along the coastal areas of Oman sea winds will be northeasterly light to moderate during day becoming variable light at night and southeasterly light to moderate over the rest of the Sultanate.

SEA STATE: Slight over most of Oman’s coasts with maximum wave height of 1.0 metres. HORIZONTAL VISIBILITY: Good over most of the Sultanate becoming poor during fog and rain. THE NEXT 48 HOURS OUTLOOK: Mainly clear skies over most of the Sultanate. Convective cloud development with isolated rain over Al Hajar mountains and adjoining areas during afternoon. Chances of early morning fog patches over governorates of south Al Sharqiyah and Al Wusta.

Max

OMAN

WORLD

Max 38 Min 33 Max 18 Min 8

Max 28 Min 17

Max 35 Min 28 Max 18 Min 2

Max 34 Min 29

Max 18 Min 3

Max 41 Min 26

Max 42 Min 29

Max 41 Min 26

Max 36 Min 29

SCORPIO S [[OCT. 23-NOV. 21] You will have to be prepared for more physical exertion than you had perhaps planned on, but it should be worth it.

Max 34 Min 18

Max 28 Min 25

Max 28 Min 14

Max 16 Min 3 Max 26 Min 12

Source: www.met.gov.om

SAGITTARIUS S Don’t make any assumptions about what someone else knows or doesn’t know. Be direct, honest and thorough in your dealings.

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI)

CAPRICORN [DEC. 22-JAN 19] You may be required to tell someone in charge how things are going. Don’t try to gloss over anything negative.

AQUARIUS [JAN. 20-FEB. 18] You must stick to your schedule despite the fact that others are demanding a little more from you than they had at ﬁrst.

PISCES [Feb. 19-March 20] Carelessness can bring you perilously close to a ledge you do not want to fall off of, but this dangerous precipice can be avoided, surely.

ARIES [March 21-APRIL 19] You’ve been working hard to reach a certain personal goal, but today it may actually seem much farther away than it did even yesterday.

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

[APRIL 20-MAY 20] You must work harder to be completely understood, whether it be in writing or through spoken interaction.

GEMINI [MAY 21-JUNE 20] You’re relying a bit too much on technological assistance to see you through. What happens if someone pulls the plug?

CANCER [JUNE 21-JULY 22] Now is no time to seek any kind of revenge. Instead, be willing to forgive and to talk about how to avoid similar situations in the future.

LEO [JULY 23-AUG. 22] You may ﬁnd yourself in something of a bind, but a friend or loved one may appear at the last minute to save the day.

VIRGO [AUG. 23-SEPT. 22] Now is no time to keep your feelings bottled up. Express yourself honestly, but carefully. Be sure you have an appropriate audience.

LIBRA L [[SEPT. [S S 23-OCT. 22] You may be asked to do something no one else wants to do, and with good reason. You can do it if you suppress your fears.

33 31 34 26 30 31

25 24 26 21 25 18

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

17 23 17 18 25 25 30 13 28 18 22 30 9 18 7 31 18 14

2 15 6 5 8 7 23 8 24 11 7 22 -3 2 -1 24 16 1

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

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

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

20:50

Daily

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

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

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

10:25

Daily

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

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

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

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

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

10:20 12:30

Daily Daily

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

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

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

12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

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

10:45 19:00

Daily Daily

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

10:30 11:15

Daily Daily

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

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

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

Daily Daily Daily Daily

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

Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101) 06:00 Marmul

Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101) 06:00 Marmul

16:30

Daily

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

Daily

16:50

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

TAURUS

GULF Abu Dhabi Doha Dubai Kuwait Manama Riyadh

TO MUSCAT (RUWI)

Operating Days Daily Daily Daily

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

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

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

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

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

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

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

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

LISTINGS

PHARMACIES Round the clock Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi: 24783334; Appolo Medical Centre, Hamriya: 24782666; Muscat Pharmacy, Ruwi: 24702542, Salalah: 23291635; Atlas Pharmacy, Ghubra: 24503585; Ruwi 24811715 Muscat Region Apollo, Al Hamriya. Tel: 24787766 Muscat, A Seeb Market. Tel: 24421691 Muscat, Al Khuwair. Tel: 24485740 Muscat, Al Hail South. Tel: 4537080 Dhofar Region Muscat, Al Nahdha Road, Salalah. Tel: 23291635 HOSPITALS Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre: 24485052 Atlas Hospital: Ruwi: 24811743/ Ghubra: 24504000 Al Musaﬁr Specialised Medical Clinic: 24706453 Hatat Polyclinic LLC, Ruwi: 24563641, Azaiba: 24499269, Sohar: 2683006 Al Raffah Hospital: 24618900/1/2 Al Massaraat Clinic & Laboratory: 24566435 Al Makook Medical Coordinance Centre: 24499434 Apollo Medical Centre, Hamriya: 24787766, 24787780 Capital Polyclinic: 24707549 Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi: 24799760/1/2 Capital Clinic, Seeb: 24420740 Ceregem National Raak: 24485633 Dr Harub’s Clinic: 24563217 Elixir Health Centre: 24565802 Emirates Medical Centre: 24604540 1st Chiropractic Centre: 24472274 Hamdan Hospital: 23212340 International Medical Centre LLC: 24794501/2/3/4/5 Kims Oman Hospital: 24760100

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

Nuzha Hotel Apartments: 24789199 Oman Dive Centre: 24824240 Park Inn: 24507888 Qurum Beach House Hotel: 24564070 Radisson Blu Hotel: 24487777 Ramee Dream Resort Seeb: 24453399 Ramee Guestline Hotel: 24564443 Ruwi Hotel: 24704244 Safeer Hotel Suites: 24691200 Sheraton Oman Hotel: 24772772 Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa: 24776666 The Chedi Muscat: 24524400 The Treasurebox Muscat Hotel: 24502570 AIRLINE OFFICES Muscat Airport Flight information (24 hours): 24519456/24519223 Aeroﬂot: 24704455, Air Arabia: 24700828, Air France: 24562153, Air India: 24799801, Air New Zealand: 24700732, Biman Bangladesh Airlines: 24701128, British Airways: 24568777, Cathay Paciﬁc: 24789818, Egypt Air: 24794113, Emirates Air: 24404400, Ethiopian Airlines: 24660313, Gulf Air: 80072424, Indian: 24791914, Iran Air: 24787423, Japan Airlines: 24704455, Jazeera Airways: 23294848, Jet Airways: 24787248, Kenya Airways: 24660300, KML Royal Dutch Airlines: 24566737, Kuwait Airways: 24701262, LOT Polish Airlines: 24796387, Lufthansa: 24796692, Malaysian Airlines: 24560796, Middle East Airlines: 24796680, Oman Air: 24531111, Pakistan International Airlines: 24792471, Qatar Airways: 24771900, Qantas: 24559941, Royal Jordanian: 24796693, Saudi Arabian Airlines: 24789485, Singapore Airlines: 24791233, Shaheen Air: 24816565, SriLankan Airlines:

SATURDAY

Min

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

[[NOV. 22-DEC. 21]

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

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WY676 WY816 WY682 WY636 WY924 BG021 4H583 PK225 EY384 GF560 ET624 EK866 QR1132 FZ041 MS930 TK778 WY412 WY686 WY638 WY142 WY902 WY668 WY658 WY644 WY114 WY122 WY692 WY674 WY432 WY132 FZ043 WY602 WY202 WY422 WY102 WY274 WY282 WY236 G9113 WY268 WY282 WY252 EK862 EY382 QR1128 9W530 IX443 WY604 WY918 PK191 WY242 WY904 WY3302 IX337 WY606 WY324 WY632 WY906 FZ045 WY656 WY346 PA450 WY328 WY204 MP95 WY292 WY3304 WY232 WY610 WY246 WY656 GF564 EY386 G9117 WY914 WY614 WY924 FZ047 CV856 SV 532 KL441 WY312 AI973 WY374 6.00E+81 QR1130 9W534 WY624 WY616 AI907 WY910 WY814 NL771 WY386 BA073 WY912 GF566 WY636 EY388 WY116 AI985 LX242 QR1134 LH618 WY654 9W540 WY662 WY816 WY612 WY717 WY696 WY648 WY406

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JEDDAH 0005 BANGKOK 0010 RIYADH 0010 ABU DHABI 0025 SALALAH 0105 DACCA/CHITTAGONG 0130 DACCA 0130 KARACHI 0225 ABU DHABI 0330 BAHRAIN 0335 ADDIS ABABA 0350 DUBAI 0355 DOHA 0405 DUBAI 0415 CAIRO 0450 ISLAM ABBAD/BAHRAIN 0605 AMMAN 0610 RIYADH 0645 ABU DHABI 0650 MALPENSA/ZURICH 0650 SALALAH 0655 DOHA 0700 BAHRAIN 0700 KUWAIT 0705 FRANKFURT 0705 MUNICH 0705 DAMMAM 0715 JEDDAH 0725 TEHRAN 0730 PARIS 0750 DUBAI 0800 DUBAI 0800 BOMBAY 0805 BEIRUT 0820 LONDON-HEATHROW 0820 JAIPUR 0850 BANGALORE 0910 HYDERABAD 0910 SHARJAH 0915 LUCKNOW 0915 BANGALORE 0925 MADRAS 0940 DUBAI 0940 ABU DHABI 0955 DOHA 1010 TRIVANDRUM 1035 COCHIN 1050 DUBAI 1105 KHASAB 1125 TURBAT 1215 DELHI 1220 SALALAH 1225 MUKHAIZNA 1230 CALICUT 1305 DUBAI 1330 KARACHI 1340 ABU DHABI 1345 SALALAH 1425 DUBAI 1545 BAHRAIN 1555 ISLAM ABBAD 1600 LAHORE 1630 LAHORE 1650 BOMBAY 1700 AMSTERDAM 1700 CALICUT 1705 MUKHAIZNA 1730 HYDERABAD 1740 DUBAI 1740 DELHI 1745 BAHRAIN 1745 BAHRAIN 1810 ABU DHABI 1810 SHARJAH 1915 SALALAH 1930 DUBAI 2020 SALALAH 2030 DUBAI 2055 LUXORE 2100 JEDDAH 2105 AMSTERDAM/DOHA 2115 CHITTAGONG 2115 DELHI 2125 COLOMBO 2130 BOMBAY 2130 DOHA 2135 COCHIN 2140 DUBAI 2145 DUBAI 2150 MADRAS 2200 SALALAH 2215 BANGKOK 2230 PESHAWAR 2230 MALE 2230 LONDON-HEATHROW/ABU DHABI 2240 SALALAH 2240 BAHRAIN 2240 ABU DHABI 2240 ABU DHABI 2300 FRANKFURT 2305 AHMEDABAD/BOMBAY 2310 ZURICH/DUBAI 2320 DOHA 2320 FRANKFURT/ABU DHABI 2330 BAHRAIN 2335 BOMBAY 2340 DOHA 2340 BANGKOK 2340 DUBAI 2345 ZANZIBAR/DARESSLAM 2345 DAMMAM 2350 KUWAIT 2355 CAIRO 2355

WY682 WY676 WY916 WY824 BG021 4H583 TK776 EY384 GF560 ET624 EK866 QR1132 FZ041 NL669 WY674 WY686 WY638 WY902 WY668 WY658 WY324 WY432 WY102 FZ043 WY602 WY202 WY274 NL768 WY236 G9113 WY346 WY226 WY212 TG507 EK862 WY252 EY382 QR1128 9W530 WY3302 WY604 WY3922 WY372 WY242 WY904 IX549 IX337 WY606 WY632 WY906 WY918 IX817 WY3304 WY812 QR8550 FZ045 WY656 WY328 WY204 WY292 WY264 WY232 WY284 WY610 WY246 QR1126 GF564 WY664 WY3306 G9117 WY914 WY614 WY144 WY406 FZ047 WY152 WY312 KL441 WY624 AI973 6.00E+81 QR1130 9W534 WY254 AI907 WY414 UL205 GF566 BA073 WY916 WY134 EY388 WY124 AI985 WY662 QR1134 LX242 WY116 WY654 WY717 WY612 LH618 9W540 WY928 WY696 WY636 WY648

RIYADH 0005 JEDDAH 0005 SALALAH 0040 KUALA LUMPUR 0105 DACCA/CHITTAGONG 0130 DACCA 0130 ISTANBUL/BAHRAIN 0300 ABU DHABI 0330 BAHRAIN 0335 ADDIS ABABA 0350 DUBAI 0355 DOHA 0405 DUBAI 0415 SIALKOT 0600 JEDDAH 0640 RIYADH 0645 ABU DHABI 0650 SALALAH 0655 DOHA 0700 BAHRAIN 0700 KARACHI 0720 TEHRAN 0730 LONDON-HEATHROW 0730 DUBAI 0800 DUBAI 0800 BOMBAY 0805 JAIPUR 0850 LAHORE 0900 HYDERABAD 0910 SHARJAH 0915 ISLAM ABBAD 0920 COCHIN 0925 TRIVANDRUM 0930 BANGKOK/KARACHI 0935 DUBAI 0940 MADRAS 0940 ABU DHABI 0955 DOHA 1010 TRIVANDRUM 1035 MUKHAIZNA 1045 DUBAI 1105 JAALUNI 1110 COLOMBO 1135 DELHI 1220 SALALAH 1225 TRIVANDRUM 1230 CALICUT 1305 DUBAI 1330 ABU DHABI 1345 SALALAH 1425 KHASAB 1440 MANGALORE/ABU DHABI 1440 MUKHAIZNA 1445 BANGKOK 1500 DOHA 1530 DUBAI 1545 BAHRAIN 1555 LAHORE 1650 BOMBAY 1700 CALICUT 1705 LUCKNOW 1715 HYDERABAD 1740 BANGALORE 1740 DUBAI 1740 DELHI 1745 DOHA 1745 BAHRAIN 1810 DOHA 1825 MUKHAIZNA 1845 SHARJAH 1915 SALALAH 1930 DUBAI 2025 MALPENSA 2045 CAIRO 2045 DUBAI 2055 ZURICH 2110 CHITTAGONG 2115 AMSTERDAM/DOHA 2115 DUBAI 2120 DELHI 2125 BOMBAY 2130 DOHA 2135 COCHIN 2140 MADRAS 2145 MADRAS 2200 AMMAN 2200 COLOMBO 2225 BAHRAIN 2240 LONDON-HEATHROW/ABU DHABI 2240 SALALAH 2245 PARIS 2250 ABU DHABI 2300 MUNICH 2310 AHMEDABAD/BOMBAY 2310 DOHA 2315 DOHA 2320 ZURICH/DUBAI 2320 FRANKFURT 2325 BAHRAIN 2325 ZANZIBAR/DARESSLAM 2325 DUBAI 2330 FRANKFURT/ABU DHABI 2330 BOMBAY 2340 SALALAH 2350 DAMMAM 2355 ABU DHABI 2355 KUWAIT 2355

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AI986 QR1135 LX243 BA072

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

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AI986 LX243 QR1135 BA072

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0025 0030 0040 0050 0115 0120 0120 0130 0130 0140 0145 0150 0150 0155 0155 0200 0210 0220 0230 0230 0245 0300 0325 0450 0455 0500 0510 0520 0525 0545 0655 0745 0745 0800 0805 0820 0840 0855 0920 0920 0925 0925 0930 0955 1010 1010 1015 1020 1020 1030 1035 1035 1040 1040 1040 1055 1055 1115 1135 1140 1150 1150 1205 1300 1320 1320 1330 1340 1405 1430 1430 1440 1525 1630 1635 1705 1730 1820 1830 1840 1840 1845 1855 1910 1920 1920 1930 1955 2030 2030 2050 2140 2205 2225 2230 2240 2245 2245 2250 2300 2310 2325 2330 2350

9W539 WY811 LH619 WY251 WY211 WY685 WY225 WY431 WY201 WY235 WY151 WY371 WY273 WY601 WY901 WY345 WY133 WY115 WY123 WY657 WY323 WY637 WY667 WY143 4H584 BG022 TK777 ET625 EK867 FZ042 WY241 QR1133 EY385 NL772 WY3301 WY3921 GF561 WY603 WY903 FZ044 WY263 WY291 G9114 WY283 WY231 WY905 WY327 WY605 NL769 WY245 WY631 WY203 WY311 WY717 EK863 EY383 QR1129 WY3303 WY405 9W533 WY917 WY655 WY331 WY253 WY413 IX554 WY101 IX350 WY663 WY927 WY609 WY3305 WY913 IX818 FZ046 WY675 QR8551 WY613 WY623 WY647 WY915 QR1127 WY681 GF565 WY653 WY661 WY695 G9118 WY611 WY923 TG508 WY635 FZ048 KL442 WY825 WY817 9W529 QR1131 6.00E+82 WY673 AI908 AI974 GF567 UL206 EY381

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

SG062 9W539 LH619 WY251 WY685 WY267 WY431 WY201 WY281 WY235 WY691 WY643 WY601 WY273 WY901 WY115 WY657 WY667 WY637 4H584 BG022 PK238 ET625 EK867 FZ042 WY241 QR1133 EY385 MS931 TK779 GF561 WY925 WY3301 WY603 WY903 FZ044 WY813 WY323 WY345 WY823 WY291 WY215 G9114 WY815 WY385 WY231 WY327 WY905 WY605 WY245 WY631 WY311 WY203 WY717 EK863 EY383 QR1129 9W533 WY917 IX442 WY655 WY337 PK192 WY253 WY223 WY3303 WY101 IX350 WY405 WY927 WY609 WY913 FZ046 WY675 WY613 PA451 WY623 MP95 WY915 WY647 WY681 GF565 EY387 WY653 WY661 WY695 G9118 WY923 WY611 WY635 FZ048 SV533 KL442 CV856 9W529 6.00E+82 QR1131 WY673 AI908 AI974 GF567 NL668 EY381

ETA

0025 0040 0040 0050 0115 0120 0120 0125 0130 0130 0145 0145 0150 0155 0155 0200 0210 0210 0210 0215 0220 0220 0230 0230 0230 0245 0300 0350 0450 0455 0500 0510 0520 0525 0700 0715 0725 0745 0805 0820 0840 0920 0925 0955 1000 1015 1020 1020 1030 1030 1035 1035 1040 1040 1040 1055 1055 1115 1115 1120 1135 1140 1150 1235 1320 1325 1330 1340 1405 1430 1430 1440 1515 1525 1530 1630 1635 1700 1705 1820 1840 1840 1845 1845 1855 1920 1920 1930 1955 2030 2030 2040 2050 2140 2225 2230 2235 2240 2245 2245 2250 2300 2310 2325 2335 2350

S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 3

EXTRA BRIEFS

Priyanka enjoying double bonanza KRRISH 3 has got a grand opening making it a perfect start for Diwali celebrations for Priyanka Chopra, the lead actress of the sci-fi superhero drama. The actress took to Twitter to express her gratitude. “What a wonderful start to Dhanteras.. Krrish 3 with phenomenal opening numbers...I’m shaking with nervousness..on a non-holiday this is fabulous,” Priyanka posted on the microblogging site yesterday. The actress also added that the hard work put in by the cast, crew and makers of the film for three years has been well rewarded. “God bless everyone who worked on this film for three long years..hope this is the beginning to a great Diwali... Krrish 3 out in theatres now,” she said. The third installment in the franchise, which began with 2003 hit Koi...Mil Gaya, Krrish 3 stars Hrithik Roshan as the superhero and sees Vivek Oberoi and Kangana Ranaut in negative roles.

Proud to be part of ‘24’, says Rahul Khanna BE it the stylised sequences or gripping storyline, 24 is a “game changer” for Indian television, says Rahul Khanna and adds that it’s his privilege to join the impressive cast of the popular show. Desi version of American thriller series 24, it comes on Colors on Friday and Saturday. He will enter as an investment banker, whose name crops up during investigations by protagonist Jai Singh Rathod, played by Anil Kapoor, who is also co-producing it. Rahul said that he always harboured a desire to play a mysterious character, something close to what he plays in the show. — IANS

H E A LT H

Cancer vaccine developed to boost life span of patients RUSSIAN scientists have developed a vaccine for the treatment of cancer that can increase the patient’s lifespan more than two-fold, ITAR-TASS reported. The vaccine, developed at the Institute of Clinical Immunology in the Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences in Novosibirsk, has already successfully passed clinical tests, said institute’s director Vladimir Kozlov. Currently, it is being administered to patients by injection at the third and fourth stages of cancer. “We are deriving dendritic cells from the human body and loading them with tumour antigens,” Kozlov said. “Dendritic cells process them, then we inject the cells into the patient and they start working in the body evoking a strong immune response. That is, they are actively ﬁghting the tumour.” The institute’s creation “is not a classical vaccine, which is the means to prevent the illness”, Kozlov said. “In fact, it is a cell therapy.” — IANS

THE

WISD

ANCIENT SCENTS The therapeutic properties of scent have been cultivated since antiquity

uffering from writer’s block? Try sniffing rotting apples. This seemed to work for 18th-century poet Friedrich Schiller, who kept the decaying fruit in his study because he felt the scent stimulated creativity. Though Goethe thought this a little nutty, a couple of hundred years later University of Arizona psychologist Gary Schwartz found that Schiller might have been on to something. The scent of spiced apples, Schwartz discovered, signiﬁcantly lowered the blood pressure of test subjects. The therapeutic properties of scent have been cultivated since antiquity. They were a particular fascination of medieval monks in their cloistered gardens. Now modern science is revealing the wisdom of ancient practices. In 2009, medical researchers at Tottori University in Japan found that exposing Alzheimer’s patients to rosemary and lemon in the morning and lavender and orange in the evening resulted in improved cognitive functions. A 2006 study by researchers at the New York University Medical Centre discovered that postoperative patients exposed to the smell of lavender reported a higher satisfaction rate with pain control. And a 2007 study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology reported that cancer patients who received massage with aromatic oils experienced a signiﬁcant improvement in anxiety and depression. By contrast, last year researchers at the University of Dresden Medical School in Germany found that people without a sense

Fragrant herbs and flowers are becoming common in healing gardens of smell — anosmics, they’re called — generally were more socially insecure and had a higher risk of depression. While these findings have obvious implications for health care, the opportunities for architecture and urban planning are particularly intriguing. Designers are trained to focus mostly on the visual, but the science of design could significantly expand designers’ sensory palette. Call it medicinal urbanism. Fragrant herbs and flowers are becoming common in healing gardens — for example, the jasmine bushes planted outside the windows of the Laguna Honda hospital and rehabilitation centre in San Francisco. The aroma of basil, thyme, mint, lilac and lavender can be extraordinarily beneficial, relieving stress, headaches and inflammation and improving sleep, digestion and blood circulation. While New York isn’t exactly known for its pleasant odours, the High Line elevated park is covered with over 300 species of plants, many of which have distinctly pleasing scents. At a certain time of year, the brilliant purple asters known as Raydon’s Favorite fill

the air with a minty perfume — nature’s air freshener. According to a 2005 study by Dutch researchers, people tidy up more when there’s a hint of citrus in the air. Imagine public places filled with aromatic blossoming trees and flowers, discouraging people from littering. A fragrant city is a clean city. We associate so many places with their aromatic landscapes — the eucalyptus groves of Northern California, for example — and whole cities can be defined by their scent. Streetscapes fill with the aroma of roasting coffee spilling from Seattle’s cafes, or the bouquet of fruit and flowers at Amsterdam’s markets, or the sugar and cinnamon wafting out of Viennese pastry shops. The Spanish city of San Sebastián, set in a deep cove ringed by cliffs, is one of the most visually arresting places I know, but its most unforgettable feature has to be the distinctive scent of sea and sand lingering on the old fishing village at its heart. Tourists follow their noses. Or run away from them. The beach community of La Jolla, California, made national news this year during its battle with the increasingly putrid smell of bird droppings. While the foul odour was turning away tourists, biologists called it the smell of success, since environmental protections were luring endangered fowl back to the area. That the scent of a city should have a potent impact shouldn’t surprise us. Scent has a direct link to the brain, acting on the limbic system, triggering the release of endorphins. Smell is the most primal of our senses.– Lance Hosey/The New York Times News Service

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 3

SECTION

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

RENT

VACANCY

CARGO

ADVERTISE NOW! 24726666 EXT: 461 / 413 /430 / 431 / 456

S AT U R D AY, N O V E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 3

DAILY GUIDE

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

FOR RENT

New Building in Wadikabir (near Indian Primary School) 2 bedrooms RO 300/-, 1 Bedroom RO 270/-. Contact 93333352 Commercial/ Residential 2 BHK at Honda Road. Contact 98087644 2 Bedroom Town house for rent in the Wave. Contact 99467464

Ready to use office/Showroom space in Qurum, main road facing & excellent location available for rent. Contact: 92944717 Villa of twin villa for rent with AC in Bowshar 4BR Majlis, family hall & maid room. Contact 99715495 Flats near Kims hospital Darsait. Contact 99465622 2 Bedrooms, Kitchen and Bath for families or Executive bachelors in Ruwi Market. Contact Saidalavi 94109909 (evening) 3 BHK ﬂat for rent @ Grand Mall. Contact 99855795 Office Space for rent near Royal Hospital Ghala. Contact 99855795 2 BHK with Split AC in Bariq Al Shatti. Contact 96708000 1BHK / 2BHK, ﬂats at Muttrah, near Oman House. Contact 93231403

Full furnished room for rent weekly 70 OMR, Monthly 250 OMR. Contact 99251975 2 big new flat in Al Amerat (Al Mahaj) 1 flat 4 BR, 4 toilet & kitchen with AC, Second flat 3BR, 3 toilets, kitchen with AC. #99339735 Flat for rent in Wadikabir. Contact 96440598 Flat in Bariq Shatti at 3rd floor with 2 rooms + hall 850. Contact 99738881 Spacious 2 Bedrooms flat for rent at Al Khuwair 17/1, Opposite Zakher Mall. Contact 99356703 350 Square meter Luxurious shops space available at Al Khoudh market area & Flats. Contact 93994402/ 93994403/ 24834644 Spacious semi furnished room with separate bathroom for Executive bachelor, opp. O.C. Centre, Ruwi. Contact 92273779

5 Bedroom Villa ready to rent at Thymsa, Nizwa near Industrial Estate. Contact 99222052

2 BR ﬂat for rent, hall, kitchen, bathroom with A/C, Rex road, Ruwi, behind Fathima Shopping Centre. Contact 91290464 / 95490049

Spacious 2 BR Flat in Wadikabir. Contact 99713489

Flat in Darsait opp IS. Contact 95158570

Office spaces for rent in Al Hail on the main road, on the same building of Al Khamis Shoes at Al Hail 99870010 / 96177505

1, 2 BHK, opp. Oman House R.O200/- &260/-. Contact 95076261

New ﬂat for rent, Wadi Adai, 2 bedrooms big, two big hall, big kitchens. Contact 99345137

Villa in Al Amerat, 1/5, one ﬂoor, contains 3 bedrooms + Majlis + kitchen + 3 toilets. # 95522405

Big shop for rent at Wadi Adai. Contact 99345137

2BHK ﬂat for rent in Wadi Adai, main road. Contact 99792181

Flat near Muscat Indian School Darsait. Contact 99344738

2 BHK ﬂats available at MBD area and shop space available in Al Khoudh market area & Wadi Adi areas. Contact 24834644 / 93994402 / 93994403

Flats in Al Amerat, Al Atkiya. Contact 94000289 / 95289944

Studio ﬂat for rent in Ruwi. Contact 99792181

Shops, Basement Store, Wadi Al Kabeer. Contact 99441193 / 93004802

1 BHK ﬂat Wadikabeer 240/-. Contact 99358589 / 97079146

2BR furnished ﬂat Shatti Qurum. Contact 99024730

2 BHK ﬂat for rent in Ruwi. Contact 99792181

Fully furnished ﬂat at Al Khuwair 33. Contact 99339078

1 BHK ﬂat Wadi kabeer 160/-. Contact 99358589 / 97079146

Extension for rent 2 rooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen and a car park 2OO RO in the South Mawalleh in the ﬁrst phase. Contact 92005298

2 BR luxury fully furnished in Azaiba, Al Khuwair 33, Madinat Qaboos. 1 BR luxury fully furnished at Madinat Qaboos, Al Khuwair. 5 BR fully furnished at Madinat Al Ilam. Contact Atlas Real Estate & Rent a Car LLC : 99429069 / 99436312 / 92888376, email : info@alshahiintl.com

Newly constructed villa (4 bath attached bedrooms + 1 bath attached Majlis + 1 hall + 1 kitchen). All rooms having split unit A/C, near Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, South Ghubra. Contact 99277221

New ﬂat in Azaiba. Contact 24485240 / 24485241

Spacious Villa at MSQ- 4 Bedrooms, 2 Majlis, 2 Kitchens, 2 External room, Spacious Garden area- Ideal for Kinter Garden School. Contact 24566217 / 24564686

Shops at Wadikabir. #99893363

Villa Al Mawaleh near City Center 4 Bedrooms, big living room, 5 bathrooms, kitchen split unit AC 600 RO family only. Contact 92479515

Villa Azaiba behind Al Zubair, 5 bedrooms, big living room, hall, 5 bathroom split unit AC 650 RO family only. Contact 92479515 2 BHK Al Qurum. #99024730 2 BHK RO 200 Behind Wadikabir Indian School. Contact 99376454 Room for rent near Al Khuwair r/a executive, Indian bachelor. Contact 96570364 Showroom / Office space in MBD. Contact 99713489 2 BHK for rent in North Darsait. Contact 94101134

Shop and store in Mabaila. Contact 99355330 2BHK available Ghubra near Indian School. Contact 99269751 2 Brand New Luxurious Villas (no 411 and 413) for rent in Azaiba. Each Villa with 6 bedrooms, servant Quarters, 2 kitchens with all modern Amenities which includes split A/C, Dish washers, oven etc, Way no 4491 / 4405. Contact 99462980

Office & Retail Space available – Alasfoor Plaza, Qurum. Contact 24566217/ 24564686 Shops in Al Ghubrah next to Indian school Ghubrah, Ideal for office space/ warehouse/ Showroom. Contact 99737562 2 BHK Wadikabir & Ruwi. Contact 99024730

3 Bedroom Villa with Maid room at Qurum 16. Contact 24566217 / 24564686

Store at Wadikabir. Contact 92844996 1 & 2 BHK ﬂat near Srilanka School in Wadi kaber 230 & 270 RO. Contact 92222922 Free Wi-Fi CBD area furnished room for non cooking bachelor, advance deposit. Contact - 99078540 Flats, shops, basement location Ruwi area to MBD area, Honda road Hamriya.Contact 92433127 / 97293708

S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 3

DAILY GUIDE

FOR SALE

NRI

M.V. FOR SALE Oil paintings For sale.# 99737812 Shops with Built in Mezzanine, Ideal for Wholesale, Showroom facility for immediate sale: location Al Ghubra. Contact 99345554 / 92955874 8’’ C.S Schedule 40 pipes for sale. Contact 98096644 Expatriate leaving House hold furniture, fridge, washing machine, office table, Sofa, Gas stove with cylinder sale. Contact 98096644 3 BHK ﬂat, 2400 sq ft, ready to occupy at K.R.Puram Bangalore. Contact- 96568583 Land for sale –Kerala 4 housing plots for sale (15cents each) in Kuzhoor (Kerala-Trichur District-near Mala – Valiaparambu) immediate sale for Rs. 1.75 lakhs per cent. Contact 99101676 Plot for sale adjacent seaport airport road plots also in Tripunithura Eroor Vennala Kakkandu Pallikara. Contact George 93577835 / 99363391 3BHK brand new semi furnished ready to occupy kakkanad kochi. Contact 24700174

BUYING/SELLING Office space in commercial building at Ghala Heights. Contact 93369598 Twin villa to sell in Wave, direct from owner. Contact 93369598 Sale or Buy any Properties, Land or Villas for best & fast Deals. Contact 99342237 / 98563312 Good Quality Wooden Kicking blocks available 1.2 mtr & 2.6 mtr length. Contact ahastco123@yahoo. com , Ph: 99318152 Wanted for purchase a medium size licensed poultery farm in Seeb or Barka areas. Contact + (968) 99315293/+ (968) 95884763 We Buy all types of Wooden Scraps. mail- ahastco123@yahoo. com , Ph: 24458759/ 98539316/ 99318152

WANTED Radiographer gulf exp, 20 years. Contact 95472494

FOR RENT Land for rent in fanja (16000 m2) opposite police station for information contact: 92823100 Shop in Al - Khuwair for sale 2700 RO and low rent at prime location. Contact : 95407510 & 92932809 Shops basement-for rent location Ruwi area Honda road, Hamriya. Contact 92433127 / 96942749 New villa at Al Khuwair 33, 6 bed rooms RO950/-Monthly. Contact 99443834 1 and 2 BR Brand New Flats in Azaiba. Contact: 96793675

MATRIMONIAL

New W A/C for sale. Contact 98255854

Brahmin family seeks a match for their 38, 5’-6”, beautiful, fair, US citizen daughter. Has MBBS and Law degrees. No bars. Highly qualiﬁed and well established professionals. Contact kashyapj1@yahoo.com

Garments Showroom for sale. Contact 99322373 / 95606154 Villa for sale, near the Airport with fully European Style interiors. Contact 99342237 / 98563312 Shopping centre for sale in Seeb Souq. Contact 96154570 Shop for sale in Al Hamriyah. Contact 97333005

Camp for sale Including Porta cabin, kitchen & Dining facilities with RO plant. For more information. Contact Nasser 99808067

Industrial Land 5000 SQT. Contact 99323957 / 95490842

Porta cabin and Container for sale. Contact 99373256

ACC. AVAILABLE

Industrial Land 5000 SQT with an Empty space in front of (opposite to Mountain). Contact 99323957/ 95490842

Furnished sharing accommodation for family near Fathima shopping Ruwi. Contact 99855203

Successful running business company for sale. Contact 97240992 Email : meena20004@yahoo.com Well established beauty parlor running successfully for 10+ years and refurbished 1 year back located at prime location in Al Khoudh main street for sale. Contact 98918189 Electrical, building material shop, behind Bank Sohar Ruwi. Contact 99359698 / 92139418 1 Month old brand new furniture for sale in Sohar. Contact 91026506 Furnished Shop for sale in Ruwi. Contact 91143284 / 92260186 / 92292490

Sharing accommodation for a family near bank Muscat at Ruwi. Contact 99793785 2 rooms with attached bathroom for bachelors. Contact: 92307916 Furnished room with attached bachelor for Indian bachelor in Al Falaj Area (single/ sharing). Contact 9676190 Azaiba single room furnished attached bathroom for non cooking Executive bachelor. Contact 99605851 Big room+ AC with bathroom sharing kitchen for working ladies Wadi Hatat 2. Contact 94475806 Single room with attached bathroom Al Hail. Contact 95356877 Room for Executive Bachelor, near Al Khuwair R/A. Contact 99659513 Furnished room in Ruwi, W/K. Contact 99794399

An Electrical Tools Shop in Al M’abeela Industrial area is for investment or sale. It has different stuff like fans, Lights and sockets. The shop has 2 new Labour clearances. Contact 98949690 / 92365667

1 bath attached room for Executive bachelors or couple only at Al Khuwair. Contact 99468015

For sale Electrical company Grade D. Contact 93204143

Well furnished ﬂat for sharing with Executive bachelor male / female near Al Falaj Hotel Ruwi. Contact 97163737

WANTED Al Mayar National Ent. Civil & Electro Mechanical Ent We are looking for building related Civil / Electrical Main contract/ Subcontract works, with/ without materials. Kindly contact Mr. Arun 99887451 Our Address: www.almayarllc.com Email mayarprojects@almayarllc.com

Marriage proposal invited for Sunni Muslim girl from Andhra Pradesh. Please send particulars to mferoz_khan2003@yahoo.com

ACC. AVAILABLE

Well furnished big shop for sale in Ghala. Contact 96653000

Mobile shop for sales includes, cupboards, display units, cash counter, CCTV, six cameras, furnish store, split A/Cs and mobile accessories stock also available for sale. Location Al Hail. Contact 97366673 /94169912/ 24551196

22 years, 160 cm height, Roman Catholic girl from Thrissur District, passed out MBA, seeking suitable alliance from Thrissur or Ernakulum district. Contact 92841175

Sharing independent accommodation for single working lady in Ruwi, near G.T.C Bus Stand. # 99757567

Single room in Muscat with A.C R.O 65/-. Contact: 95094028 Bath attached room with sharing kitchen for working lady or family in Ghubra. Contact 99342300 Single, non cooking, separate toilet opp Safeer Plaza Al Khuwair. Contact 99568122

Toyota Corolla 1.6 Xli 2012 like new, under warranty. Contact 93782735

3 Ton Truck for sale JAC Truck model 2010. Contact 95606154 / 99322373

Suzuki Alto 2011, Mazda2006. Contact 99794399

Peugeot partner van for sale model-2008, silver color, 83,000 km single owner - company maintained. Contact 99542473

KIA Karnival for sale 2004 model company service, good condition 2000 RO. Contact 99077395 Peugeot partner van for sale model-2008, silver clour, and 83,00km single owner-company maintained. Contact 99542473

Sharing accom. available for keralite family in Hamariah nr School. Contact 95221165

Rav 4 2012. Contact 99336093

Sharing room with attached bathroom for working ladies, near ISD Darsait. Contact 99526851

Prado 2008. Contact 94261000

Single room with separate bathroom & bathroom & sharing for Executive bachelor (Keralites preferred), opp. to Makha Hotel Wadi Kabir, near to MBD Khimjis Mart. Contact 99544063

Pajero 2003, no 1 Automatic RO 2800/-. Contact 99384640

Spacious room independent bathroom in 2BHK ﬂat Darsait for sharing. Contact 96934161

Kia opirus 2009 model. Contact 93307973

Room for rent in Ruwi. Contact 95372192

Lancer 1.3 ltr, 150,000KM, 2006 model good condition. Contact 99659946 Yaris 2007 Automatic 198000 kms Interior, Exterior excellent condition dealer serviced insurance valid one year RO 2500. Contact 99883991

Camry 2011. Contact 99336093 Daihatsu - Granmaz Van-Good condition. Contact 99545895 / 95451313

Pajero 2008. Contact 94261000

Mazda 6 no1, 2012 good condition, under installment, full option. Contact 99766886

GOOD NEWS

2006 Nissan Maxima 85000 kms A/T full power options sunroof RO 2900/-. Expat owned well maintained. Contact 99339025 Toyota Corolla (black), 2008 last model, fully automatic, 11,4000 kms driven, valid mulkia (eight months). . Contact 95729549 / 95801101

TRANSPORTATION Transportation. Contact 93405941

Room for rent in Al Khuwair. Contact 92708300

Pick & drop in capital area. Contact 95930556

2 rooms with bathroom and sharing kitchen near ISWK couple or Executive bachelor.Contact 99330839

Transportation. Contact 99509283 Transportation. Contact 99664703

Spacious room with A/C for Executive bachelor /working lady in Wadi Kabir, near Kuwaiti mosque. Contact 99720561 Independent room /Kitchen/Bathroom Accommodation available for Indian Executive Bachelor Behind Muscat Bakery-Al Hail North. Contact 93219776 Available Sharing Accommodation in Ruwi, next to K.M Centre separate room and bathroom RO 130/-. Contact 92619102 Single room with toilet available near Darsait roundabout. Contact 92120626 Rooms/ Store available in WK with attached bathroom for Labor/ Executive/ Bachelor/ Family. Contact 92384963 Single room, non cooking bachelor Rex road. Contact 95747799 Ghubra furnished room + attached bath available. Contact 98267157

Transportation only. #99751397 Sponsor ship with legal and shop for rent or sale. Contact 99342763

Transportation. Contact 99077348

Art of living waves of happiness program to relax your body and mind to overcome stress through various breathing techniques from 05th Nov to 9th Nov from 7.30pm to 10.15pm at AL khuwair. Contact 94039695/ 95429685

Transportation. Contact 99664703

FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 96050000, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133. For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit: www.islamfact.com

Transportation Contact 95570429

Ayurvedic treatment for backache paralysis arthritis etc. & massage All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact 24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980

Transportation. Contact 98178135

Transportation available. Contact 95068976 Transportation. Contact 98546606 For transport. Contact 92548219

LOST Mokter Shek Khorom Shek has lost Bangladeshi Passport no. F 0646440. Finder please handover to ROP

S AT U R D AY, N O V E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 3

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

Experienced Indian male looking for part time accounting job based on Tally ERP9. Contact 96934161 9 years of logistics experience in operation s and marketing need suitable post . Pls cont Sivashankar at 97328086. 24 yrs female with driving license, BBA+ I.A.T.A,3 years experience seeking suitable position in secretarial ,admin, HR, procurement , travel. Contact 95337828 or e-mail at hibhak@gmail.com. INDIAN male, B .Tech Electronics & Communication with computer networking knowledge(CISCO R&S, Security, Windows server) being able to implement, maintains & troubleshoot LAN/WAN systems seeks suitable placement Contact: 92180401, riyaznazir@yahoo.com 15 years Oman experienced Keralite light duty driver with valid driving license. Please contact: 97413721 Indian male 30 yrs having 5 yrs exp in oil & gas maintenance dept as fabricator in lamprell energy Sharjah UAE looking for placement, presently in visit visa. Contact – 92084948 Email- sijojohn729@gmail.com

MEDICAL

SALES / MARKETING

DRIVER

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Building material & Tools dealer required: Accountant, Sales Executive (D/L), Office Assistant. Send CV : PO Box 1070 PC 131 Hamriya. Urgently required Accountant cum Office Admin (female), Sales Executive (female). E-mail: fancyworld@live.com Tel: +968 99776650, 97772502 A leading foodstuff company requires the following: Accounts Assistant with 3 years minimum experience in relevant ﬁeld, willing to be assigned in Muscat area. Interested candidates may send their resumes at amcs.om@hotmail.com

ADMIN Urgently required Light vehicle driver (Omani) – 2 nos. with min. 3 yrs experience, Cashier (Omani) - 1 no. with min. 1 yr experience, Designer (any Nationality) with min. 1 yr. experience, Administrative Officer, Omani, 1 yr experience. Candidate who wish to apply requested to send their CVs+ photo ID e-mail : hroman2013@outlook.com Looking for entry-level / executive HR candidate w/ min 6 mos exp. Eng (req) + Arab (asset). Medical exp / JCI accred / DHA MOH reg knowledge (preferred). Email resume to admin@rochesterwellness.com

Wanted light vehicle driver with English & Arabic speaking skills, Email : almoosarentacar@gmail. com, tel : 96163182 Required Driver for House, Candidate (Men/ Women) with valid Gulf license. Contact 99333170 Required Indian Driver with 3 years old valid Omani driving license staying in Ruwi. Contact 96761960 A good Omani family looking for an Indian Muslim / Christian Driver having valid Oman Driving license with more than 2 yrs driving experience in Oman. Contact 92460363

EDUCATION Required English language teachers Mathematics and Science in English required to provide educational qualiﬁcation, experience. Email: aleithar@hotmail.com Required Teacher, Qualiﬁcation: B. A. English & B.Ed. English & experience interviews from 8.00 am to 1.00 pm. Contact 24705605

CATERING Wanted person with knowledge of Catering service & Arabic kitchen. Contact 92778832, fax : 26885011 Urgently required for a Hotel apartment in Sohar : (1) Operations Manager - experienced with GCC driving license.(2) Receptionist (male), (3) House-keeping Supervisor. E- mail: noronhagj27@gmail.com

DOMESTIC HELP Looking for a Maid from 8 AM 4.30 PM for a family in Al Khuwair 33. Serious candidate can call in evening. Contact 92289437

DRIVER House Driver experienced in Capital area. Contact 99342237 Wanted Indian Driver with knowledge of electrical and plumbing work. Contact # 99451845

MISC Required a qualiﬁed diesel mechanic -more than 5 years experience, working in construction company: GSM: 97089814/95921078/96361449; Email: fouad.mohammed@ amanabuilding.com Urgently required Beautician, light Drivers, Housemaids visa ready. Contact 96296417, Email : alkubratrading@gmail.com Camp Boss, Qualiﬁcation : Any Degree, Experience : Minimum 3 years. The candidates have hotel maintenance, Health & Hygiene, Food & Safety Experience. Candidate must speak & write English, must be Computer Literate. Contact : 92503125 & 92048058 Land line : 23279474 , Email : hralezco@ hotmail.com Urgently required welder for metal furniture. Contact 93231403

Required Sales Executive for Construction pipeline products. Freshers can also apply. Email digjaa@gmail.com Wanted Outdoor Salesman in IT & Network fields with good experience and having valid Omani Driving license. Send CV to: bet2010@omntel.net.om Experienced person in distribution food stuff with driving license and language proficiency in Hindi, Arabic and English. call 95638239 after 5 pm Required Tailor, Barber & Salesman. Contact 96154570 Urgently required Key Account Salesman with must experience in foodstuff, if having experience in House ware will get priority. Forward your resume on info@alliusie.com or Fax 24814764 Urgently required 02 Salesmen with driving license experience Req: 3 years in Garments. Contact 99322373/ 95606154 Email alzahra_finance@yahoo.com A leading manufacturers of Building Chemicals in Dubai are looking for a Stores/Purchase coordinator with min. 2 years experience in manufacturing industry. Please send your CVs: pur.stores@gicoman.com

SECRETARIAL Vacant for interior decoration ﬁeld, Interior decoration Engineer, decoration foreman, artist, painters. ontact 95540786. Email: md@alrasen.com

ENGINEERS/TECH

Wanted Filipino or Indian professional for salon. Contact 99892289

Need a Dentist with M.O.H license in Oman to work in new dental clinic in Shinas. Contact: 99439989

INTERIOR DESIGNER

BEAUTY Female employees required for a beauty center: 1-Sports trainer, 2-Skin Masseuse, 3- Henna artist, 4- Receptionist familiar with English and computer. Call: 92193223

GP Doctor with MOH license wanted for Polyclinic at Maabela South. Contact 98115439

Construction Company required Civil Engineer. Contact 93530756 / 94005668 A reputed Construction company having roads & building projects require: Project Manager, Site Engineer, Civil Foreman. All Should have Oman experience. Send CV: hr_grandlay@yahoo.com A reputed construction Co. having projects in Govt & Private Sectors require: Project Engineer, Site Engineer, Civil Foreman. All should have Oman experience. Send CV : jobanestllc@gmail.com

MEDICAL Doctors - Male & Female General practitioners for Al Farooq poly clinic at Barka & Mabelah branch. Send CV to alfarooqpolyclinic@ gmail.com or call 99526926 Leading Hospital in Muscat is recruiting all Medical / Surgical specialists, Nurses, Physicotherapist, Assistant Pharmacists, Medical Technicians, Omani office staff, etc. Email CV to vacancyahh@gmail.com Required a Pharmacist B Pharm. and Dentist (MOH License Holder) for a reputed polyclinic in Oman. Contact: 99621372, 97076009 mail-alrawdahpolyclinic@gmail.com

MBD Based Promotion company needs Female Office Executive, preference Keralites. Email jobinmbd@gmail.com Secretary required experienced Secretary required for Ruwi ofﬁce. Must have high standard of competence in MS Office suite and excellent English communication skills. Send CV and covering Email to mj-co@omantel.net.om

Sales & Marketing Executive exp bachelor degree in business marketing, 3 years experience relation & contacts in the Oman Market, experience printing presses is must, good computer, valid Omani driving license. Send your CV to email address: info@albatnapp.com, # 99202531/ 24814132/ 24810133 Urgently required Outdoor Sales Executive with Oman D/L for furniture show room. Contact 93231403

SITUATION WANTED Male,25,ACCA finalist with driving license, seeking for immediate replacement,1 year accounting and 3 month audit experience in audit ﬁrm, expecting audit job only. G.S.M. No. 97654769, email id: abdullah.nooralam@yahoo.com Indian, young, male, Pre-university educated looking for sales/stores or related job call 96914222 Indian male 25, having CA Inter cleared with B.com having ﬁve years of experience in accounts and auditing, presently working in Oman looking for a better placement. Mob 98097009, Email: rameesnm@gmail.com Indian male 24 yrs Diploma in air conditioning 3 yrs exp. Contact 91045627 Indian Male, B.Tech, 8 years Experience in Teaching & Admin, web developing ,c,c++,java,HTML,DHTML, programming,looking for suitable position. Contact 98290053, 97068258 Email: vasanth.blessy@gmail.com

Filipina, 29 years old nursing aide graduate with 2 years experience as hotel receptionist in oman and 7 yrs exp in Hospital administration.. contact number 97205586 Indian female, 24 yrs, having 3 yrs experience in Hospitality & HR. Presently working as Customer Care Executive in a reputed ﬁrm. Seeks suitable post. #94288397, Email: rajeevrajan307@gmail.com Lady wedding and event photographer/ designer with ten yrs experience in GCC looking for suitable job in Muscat. contact 96439317 Accountant 25 yrs male having bachelor degree, last 4 years experience in Pakistan of UAE base trading company, seeks suitable position of accountant. Contact 00923453285697 Indian male 28 years with more than 6 years experience in sales requires a suitable placement as sales man in any ﬁeld. Contact 94015209. Email- babupezheril@yahoo.co.in

Indian female (MBA in HR and Finance) 4yrs of experience, Good in MS Office, Fluency in English. Seeking suitable placement. please contact: 95716128, E. Mail: malavisu@gmail.com Indian Female, 24 years, M-Tec in Bio-Technology with good practical knowledge in Molecular Biology, seeking a suitable position. Contact: 91262412/99502416 Email: s.aswathi88@gmail.com Indian male 25, having CA inter cleared with B.com having five years of experience in accounts and auditing, presently working in oman looking for a better placement. Mob 98097009, Email: rameesnm@gmail.com Indian male 26 having 5.5 years experience in oil & gas field with 2 years gulf experience and valid oman driving license. Contact Ashok kumar, BE Mechanical Gsm. +968 95262241 Indian Male, B.Com Graduate, 24, 2+ yrs of exp in Accounting field, currently on visit visa looking for suitable placements. #94255149 Hotel apartment maintenance incharge elect, plumbing and a/c gulf exp 12.years. Contact 95452204 Chemist- Indian female, 3 years’ experience in analytical research, seeking suitable placement. currently in Muscat on family visa. Can joins immediately. Experience on HPL, UV- VIS, IR, GC, Sprayview, PH meter, KF titrator potentiometer etc. Contact : 91044366 32 yrs, Pakistani male, 7 years of banking experience, MBA Marketing, B. Com Accounting seeking for placement. Contact 99130285, 98856216 Indian Expat female, B. Sc Physics and Tally ERP 9 educated with valid Omani Driving license seeks suitable position. Contact : 00968 97386005 Hotel and apartment maintenence incharge, elect,plumbing,and,a/c, Oman,exp,8,years. # 95452204 Civil Project Manager, Graduate, Indian, 28 years experience, 22 years in middle east and of which 18 Years in Oman, is looking for a new challenging opening. Contact 00968 98501208 Indian Male 24 yrs, B.com having 2 years experience in Accounting, Finance & Admin with good knowledge in Tally & Computers looking for suitable position . Currently in Muscat. Contact: 97840863 Indian female 29, Diploma in Hotel Management, having experience in teaching and front office, looking for similar full time or part time jobs in Muscat area. E mail: manu12.mov@gmail.com; 95193173/ 96022648 BSC B.ED educated Indian, Keralite Female seeking suitable placement in Primary/ Nursery school. Immediately available. #96128798 Indian female MCA., Mphil., 5 yrs experience in software development &programming lang., C, C++, HTML, XML, Asp. NET,C#,SQL Server, ORACLE and MySQL, seeking suitable placement can join immediately.Contact:97765173. mail: dtkthillai@gmail.com

Indian male, M.Sc statistics with 13 years of GCC experience in EXCH. & REMITTANCE as operation manager/cheif teller seeks suitable placement. Cont.94099066 Indian female MCA., Mphil (University Rank Holder) in computer Science having 5 yrs of experience in teaching(Lecturer in college) seeking for teaching position (school or college).# :97765173. mail: dtkthillai@gmail.com Accountant Indian male B. Com having two years experience in tally ERP 9. Ready to join immediately, Contact 95534746. Indian, Male, Commerce Graduate, 12 years experience in Foreign Exchange, Secretarial, Administration, Finance & Accounts, seeks for a suitable post. #+968-95962800. E-mail: sumeshks007@gmail.com 26 year Indian Chartered Accountant male with 2yrs of experience is seeking suitable placement in Muscat. Contact him on 98201476 or email at venkat230684@gmail.com Chemical Engineer (certified) having experience of oil/gas and various industries fluent in English, having sound knowledge of chemical processes seeking procurement in a reputable company. Currently available on visit visa. Contact: 97455466 Indian Male, 30.Y. Looking for Job of an Accountant having 9.5 years of experience, having knowledge of Tally, Oracle based ORION, Quickbooks Looking for suitable Position very soon. Contact on : 92629133 IT Professional ,Indian female MCA.,Mphil., 5 yrs experience in software development &programming lang., C, C++, HTML,XML,Asp. NET,C#,SQL Server,ORACLE and MySQL.Seeking suitable placement can join immediately. Contact: 97765173. mail:dtkthillai@gmail.com Indian Female, B.E(Electronics), 8 years exp. in coordination, service, maintanence & support dept. for electronics analytical/scientific Lab instruments and good in report preparation also. Contact : 93236694 Indian Male, 30.Y. Looking for Job of an Accountant having 9.5 years of experience, having knowledge of Tally, Oracle based ORION, Quick-books Looking for suitable Position very soon. Contact on: 92629133 Male, 27, MBA specialized in marketing , looking for suitable position. Having valid oman driving license. Contact. 99590408 Indian Male. Having 7 years experience in Electronics & home appliances, IT products and furniture Showroom in Oman GSM : 94043327 sadiksm@yahoo.com Civil project manager, Civil Engineering, Indian, 28 years experienced, is looking for a challenging new opening. Call 98501208. Indian Male 36yrs, M.B.A with 12 yrs of Experience in Life and Non life insurance field 3yrs in oman with Motor and non motor field Valid oman D/L, seeks suitable position for same field or any sales and Marketing. Contact +96898159932. Indian Male, MBA Marketing, 41 yrs. Experience in trading, export and domestic sales and supply chain management. Industries handled : Marble & tyres, Seeks a suitable career. Release available. 99823003 Indian Female - 2 years experience as Design Engineer/Interior Designer. Experience and knowledge in AutoCAD 2D and 3D, 3ds Max, Revit Architecture, Sketch Up, Adobe Photoshop. Qualification - B.Sc Interior Design and AutoCAD Certified. Contact - padma31priya@gmail.com Male Nurse with 8yrs experience in emergency Department, MOH License of Oman, ACLS, BLS Certificate, currently in Muscat seeking suitable placement. Contact 97141787, email sreejithks2006@yahoo.co.in Male Graduate 12 years experience in Oman, seeks immediate placement as office coordinator or any suitable job. contact 93393769 Male, 27, MBA specialized in Marketing, looking for suitable position. Having valid oman driving license. Contact. 99590408 Indian female, GNIIT, B.Sc, 7 years experience in IT, worked for Tata group, India, seeks suitable IT related jobs in Muscat. #94470601/ rajalakshmi.sivaraman@gmail.com

S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 3

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED

ENGG. / TECHNICAL

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Accountant & audit services. Gsm 99761216

Diploma in Civil Engineer 4 years experience in Oman now available in Oman, Looking a job. Contact 97415597

Indian male M.Com CA Inter 1st group passed Accountant 3 years in Oman 12 years India, tally knowledge. Contact 98334532

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Having exp. in Accounts, 4 yrs in Oman, can handle upto finalization. Contact 96726783 Indian male 39, Senior Accounts professional having 16+ years exp in finance, accounting auditing, can join immediately. Contact 94207919 Indian male 31 years M.com, more than 11years experience in the field of accounts including 6years experience in maid east join immediately. Contact 93044232 Email: rajivdanie180@gmail.com Indian male 31 yrs M.Com & C.FA (India) 6 yrs of experience in Accounts & Finance, good in Tally & M.S Office. Contact 93855315 Indian female, M.Com & computer, Accounts seeks suitable placement. Contact 99817516 / 95791943 MBA (Banking & Finance) 2 years experience in Accounts having Tally knowledge, with Oman D/L, Looking for job. Contact 97334578 Email: mushfaqhussain230@gmail.com Accounts Manager, Commerce Graduate, 12 yrs experience in industries, audit & tax, 6 yrs in Oman, looking for suitable placement. Contact 96621642, a.b.vasoya@gmail.com Accountant 26 years with B.Com 4 yrs experience in Oman in Accounts, seeking suitable position. Contact 95960600 Accountant 26 yrs Indian female M.Com 2.5 yrs experience. Contact 92956138 Indian male 34 yrs, M.B.A (finance) having 5 years experience as an Accountant in Oman with valid D/L. Contact 95690145 email: kumarkeezhillam@gmail.com Chartered Accountant from India with 20+ years of progressive experience in Corporate Financing/ Accounting/Audit/Treasury Management/Forex/Fund Mobilization in diverse industries across Geographies (Asia & Africa), seeks suitable placement, Relocation Immediate. Contact - 94374729, +91 9940001123, Email - mnksamuel@hotmail.com Chartered Accountant from India, Post Qualification experience 21 years, working in Muscat since July 2011, at a Senior position in a group of SME’s, seeks suitable change. Contact 94201290 Email chakjain37@yahoo.com 15 years experienced Senior Accountant looking for suitable position presently at qatar. indian male 35 years MOB:0097455783515 bijoychamy@gmail.com ACCA member, adv Diploma Accounting & Business (U.K) 24 yrs male, 3 yrs experience tally ERP9, peach tree focus ERP, MS office looking for immediate placement. Contact 97268263 Accountant Indian male, 28 yrs, MBA, B.Com having 5+ years exp & D/L seeks immediate placement. Contact 93397327 Email: rijurenuka@gmail.com Canadian Female, CHRP certified, 5 years experience Canada, Customer services, recruitment, HR Policies and Procedures. Contact 97385772 Email mathewsdliza@gmail.com Indian female MBA (Finance) C.A Articles, B.Com 4 years experience in Accounts Auditing (Tally ERP 9), looking for suitable placement. Contact 93023103 Email- shamlashajuji@gmail.com Indian male, 28, MBA, with 8+ years experience Across Oman, UAE, India & USA, Seeking suitable opportunities in Accounting and Finance, Business Analysis, Audit Procurement and purchase. Contact 93290537 Indian male, B.Com 2+ years experience, looking for suitable placement. Contact 97293942

Indian male 34yrs, M.B.A (finance) having 5years experience as an accountant in Oman with valid D/L. Contact 95690145 email: kumarkeezillam@gmail.com Indian male, 23 yrs B.Com with Tally ERP9 & expert in MS Office, seeking suitable placement. Contact 94188632 Email renjunairnagpur90@gmail.com Indian Male 23 years Qualification in NCVT Mechanical Course and Professional Diploma in finance Accounting requires a suitable placement any field. Contact 91031950 Email sinojmukundan@gmail.com Indian Female 30 Yrs. MBA Finance, 3.5 years experience, seeking suitable positions Now in family visa. Contact - 93179101 Chief Accountant well experienced with reputed Group, seeks placement. Contact 95598477 / 98803439 Indian male 33 yrs M.Com, Finance having 7+ yrs experience as an Accountant in Muscat, knowledge up to finalization, Audit, debt Collection, A/R Omani D/L, seeking senior level position. Contact 93088436

Accounts part time / full time work, ﬁnalization works. #96247295

ADMIN/HR Indian female having GCC Driving license, seeking suitable placement in HR/ Administration or Purchase / logistics. Contact 95347130 Over 14 years of Gulf experience in admin /HR/ Logistics Office Manager / Executive Secretary, fluent in Eng/ Arabic with D/L. Contact 95824598 Indian female with 17 years Gulf experience in administrator & Executive Secretary looking for suitable position. Contact 98587275 Indian female, MBA, Industrial Management, 2 yrs experience, proficient in HR, Admin activities. Contact 96145006 Masters in Communication, Journalism, finance, excellent English, writing skills, creative, Arabic speaking Indian, Oman exp, seeks Administration / Corporate Communication/ Press Relations / Advertising/ Operations role. # 98179887 Electronics & Communication Engineer. MBA (HR & Marketing) with experience, female, seeks job. Contact 96963961

Canadian Educated Citizen, Male 45, With 17 years of experience in Finance & Accounts including 3 years of GCC Experience, is looking for a suitable Job in Finance. Contact- 98711999 Email- bijou.thomas@yahoo.com

Indian male, 31 yrs, Commerce Graduate (B.Com) with 9.5 yrs of varied experience in Administration, operations, client relationship & team management seeking suitable placement. Contact 97268311, loyedfernandes@gmail.com

Seeking for Appropriate job status MBA (ﬁnance) experience 8.5 years functional area: ﬁnance & management. Email: m25fh2015@yahoo. com, 93633590

Indian female B.Com MS Office 10 yrs experience Admin, front office management looking for suitable post in Sohar. Contact 93510175

MBA finance with 4 years experience in finance and oil field industry looking for a suitable opportunity, holding Omani driving license. Contact 95696446 Email: dhaneeshgvr@yahoo.com Accountant Indian female B.Com PGDCA 8 years exp in Oman. Contact 99058722 / 98896522 Indian male 39 yrs, having 15 years experience (7 years in Oman) in Accounts Audit finance, looking for a senior position in Accounts. Contact 98870042 Indian male Accountant 8 yrs experience, 4yrs Gulf experience, seeking suitable placement. Contact 95619243 Chartered Accountant Indian male with 5 years of post qualification experience (4 in Oman) seeks suitable placement. Contact 93791700 Indian male, 31, Accountant 5 years exp in Oman (total 10), seeking suitable placement. #99021031 Indian male, Chartered Accountant & Cost Accountant; 24 years of experience (10 Years in UAE). Has worked as Financial Controller and Accounts Manager. E mail is raza_shuab@hotmail.com, Please Contact +968 99857838 or +971 50 8686746. Manager Accounts & HR MBA finance PGDHRM 10 yrs experience in India 14 yrs experience in Muscat Presently working in Construction/ Earth works co. in Muscat available to join immediately. #91103856 Email: newjobs13@yahoo.com Accounts Manager, MBA Finance & PG Diploma in HR, total 24 yrs experience, working in Oman since 14 yrs now working in Oman forconstruction co. in Muscat, can join immediately. Contact 91387354, accounts242013@yahoo.com Indian male Accountant,B.Com with 6 yrs experience in Oman, seeks suitable placement. # 91057862. e_mail umct777@ gmail.com Indian male B Com looking for suitable placement in Accounts. Contact 92576275 Indian male 21, B.Com Graduate, knowledge in Accounts ( packages: Tally, Peachtree) seeking for a suitable post. Tel : +968-94123495, E-mail : zameelpv@gmail.com

Indian male, 29 yrs, LLB/ PGDHRM having 4 yrs exp in HR & Admin in Oman looking for a suitable vacancy. Contact 97866249 Qualiﬁed female HR professional with MBA(HR),BE,PGDBM 5 years work experience seeking suitable role in HR proﬁle. valid oman D/L contact 94129462

ARCH/ INTERIOR Architect 6 yrs experience knowledge 2D-3D drawing, having D/L (Omani) looking for suitable job. Contact 98928458 Email: joydeep736@yahoo.com Cad Drawings Architectural detail drawings, interior exterior drawings 3D views. Contact 99610110 Iraqi Architect 23 years, experience 7 years in Oman, seeking for suitable replacement. Contact 97608513

BEAUTY & HEALTH An Indian Lady Spa Beautician, seeks employment. # 92863352

DRAUGHTSMAN Architectural Draughtsman and Site visiting 24 yrs male Indian 3 years experience in Oman. Contact 96309295 Email shihabpspu@gmail.com Draughtsman Civil Diploma in AutoCAD 7 years experience in GCC, seeking suitable placement. Contact 97332301 Architectural & Interior Draughtsman. 4years Gulf Experienced. Knows 3dsMax&Photoshop. Ph:98310977

DOMESTIC HELPER Housemaid looking job Kerala family from India. Contact 95175192 2 experienced Muslim Housemaids, need job in 1 house or nearest houses. Contact 98408488

DRIVERS Driver looking for job. Contact 98401658 Indian Light Driver need job. Contact 91254539

DRIVERS Light / heavy duty driver, valid Oman and Dubai lic, looking job from India and Srilanka. Contact 95175192 Driver 13 years experience in GCC, seeking suitable placement. Contact 95969613 Arabic, English, Hindi speaking. Driver looking for a job good company. Contact 96989106/ 92108447 Driver with Pajero and car available. Contact 93262460 Driver looking for job, 10 years experience. Contact 99501396 / 93956395 Wanted Driving job. #96741993 Driver job. Contact 95387829 / 98537756 Light Driver. Contact 98077981 / 98946925 4 yrs Experienced Indian Driver (Exp..in sales ﬁeld ) looking for job as driver. 93079087

EDUCATION Indian female 25 yrs, Masters in English and Bachelors in Business Management (University Rank Holder in Masters & Bachelors) with excellent communication skills & 2 years exp. in Teaching & Administration seeking for a suitable placement. Contact - 99413704 Indian female MSc BEd Physics having 2 years experience of teaching physics & Maths to Grades up to X, seeking for part time job. Contact 93863317 Pakistani female M.SC (Master) Biology having 15 years of experience of teaching biology & chemistry to grades IX to XII seeking for part time job .Contact 91280346

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Indian male Diploma in Civil Engineering, 8 years Civil building construction and telecom (Tower) experience with valid Oman driving license, seeks suitable placement. Contact 95035884 / 93567629 Email abhilash.mk001@gmail.com BE Mechanical Engineer, Indian male Looking for suitable opening in Sales, Structural design, Production, MEP and Oil and Gas sector. Contact 91323520 Email shuaibmohammed62@gmail.com B.E Elect Eng 9 yrs exp GCC Elect Projects Oman license, visa. Contact 92732744 Email sahul.hameed.k@gmail.com B.Tech information technology Indian male, system admin/engineer, IT hardware /network specialist currently in Muscat seeks suitable position. Contact 96905366 Email: adv.itmct@gmail.com Indian male, 25 yrs, Engineer, B.Tech Electronics & communication, Honeywell automation, 2 yrs exp, holding valid Oman D/L, seeking for job. Contact 96159936, Email : sino_ks@yahoo.com Three years experience Indian post graduate automation and control Engineer seeks suitable job. Contact 99016434 B.Tech Electrical 24 years Indian male having one year experience in Construction ﬁeld, seeking for suitable opportunity, Currently in Muscat, Ready to join immediately. Contact 91154191 Email 6rishyam@gmail.com

BE (Electronics & Communications Engineer) 23 yrs Indian male 1 yr experience, seeking suitable placement. Contact 92080713 Indian male; E&I Engineer, 4 years experience in petrochemical, oil & gas ﬁeld seeking suitable position. Contact : 92941392/95834965 ; email: vinodariez@gmail.com 26 years male, BE Electronics Engineer, 2+ years experience in Saudi Arabia & 6+ months in Pakistan with valid Saudi driving license, seeks suitable position. Contact 97453326 Email naveedhasan388@hotmail.com Welding Inspector (CSWIP 3.1) with B-Tech in Production Engg, seeks suitable job. Contact 92711433 15 years of Oman exposure. Smart Indian Male with MBA. Experienced in Oilﬁeld Products (Upstream) & Security systems as Sales & Marketing Manager, seeks suitable placement in a senior position. Contact 99639375 Indian male, 25 years, B. Tech Civil Engineer with 1.5 years experience, seeking job in Oman available for interview. Contact 93319697 email: solaman.t@gmail.com Indian male with BE (MECH) 1.4 year experience in QA/QC, ASNT level II, Currently in Muscat on visit visa, seeking suitable placement. Contact 91318441 Email sabuprajuputhenparambil@gmail. com Indian male 28 years Automation Instrument Engineer 4.7 years exp, 3.3 years in India, 1.4 years in Oman PLC AC Drives SCADA Instruments, seeking suitable placement in Industrial Automation projects and maintenance. Contact 94133913 3 years experience Indian post Graduate Automation and Control Engineer seeks suitable job. Contact 99016434 Environmental Engineer with more than 20 years experience (HSEMS system implementation), looking for a job as Manager / HSE Lead. Adept in implementing quality system based on ISO 14001/18001. Post Graduate in Environmental Science, Nebosh IGC and Diploma in Quality Management. Contact: jaynbr@gmail.com. Mobile: 96997841 29 yrs, male, B.Tech Civil, 2 years experiences in Oman with D/L. Contact 92657101 BE Mech HVAC Engineer Indian male with 2 years experience, seeking suitable position. # 97122895 Indian male B.E Electrical Engineer 12 years experience as MEP Engineer in Construction company, seeks suitable placement. Contact 92532941 B/E Electronics Engineer having 3.5 years of Indian experience in Planning, Construction, Telecommunication, Hardware Networking, Marketing. Contact 92629307 Autocad D/MAN, cum qs, 3 yrs Diploma Civil Engg, 7 yrs exp, architectural, structural, MEP. PH : 99857698 Diploma in Civil Engineer 4 years experience in Oman now available in Oman, Looking a job. Contact 97415597 B.E Mechanical, Indian male, 26 yrs, on visiting visa, having 3 years experience in Piping Projects as QA/QC Engineer/ Site Engineer. Contact 968 98766298 Email- nagesh.saps@gmail.com India male BE Civil Eng 20 year exp present working in India as Project Manager seeking suitable placement. Gsm 00919900666960 harshavardhana_mv@yahoo.com

Chemical Engineer (certiﬁed) having experience of Oil / Gas and various Industries having sound knowledge of Chemical Processes, seeking procurement in a good company, currently available on visit visa. Contact 97455466

Indian male, 26 years, B.Tech Electronics Graduate, having 2 years experience with valid Oman D/L, seeks suitable placement. Contact 98622425E mail: shejinmathew@gmail.con

Structural Civil Engineer, BE, Indian male, 10 yrs exp in Infrastructure road, Bridges, ﬂy over. Contact for CV 95484776 Email joanjebaraj@gmail.com

Indian male, BE Civil Engineer 5 years experience, seeking suitable Vacancies with Oman driving license. Contact 95835537 Email : skklnet@gmail.com

Indian Civil Quantity Surveyor –Total Exp(15yrs) GCC(4yrs)Diploma, D/L, Looking placement: contact :khan.civilqs@gmail.com, 96608610 Indian male having BE Chemical Engg with 1year experience looking for suitable position. Contact 98466650 B. Sc Civil Engineer Pakistani total 6 yrs exp 2 & have yrs exp in Oman valid Omani D/L. Contact : 97166543 Email: engr.mazik@yahoo.com Indian male BE Automobile 2013 MIT passout diploma Mechatronics (NTTF) visit visa, seeking suitable position. Contact 98901241 Email edwinjohn27@yahoo.com 25 Years Indian male, BE Electronics & Communication Engineering Graduate, seeking suitable placement. Hold valid Oman driving license. Contact 97434543 Email drizzle77@gmail.com Sudanese Electrical Engineer 4 years of experience, looking a job. Contact 95686723 Indian female 25 yrs B-Tech Civil Engineer 2 yrs experience good Knowledge Studd-pro AutoCAD, seeking suitable placement. Contact 95716424 Indian male 27 yrs B.Tech Automobile, 5.5 yrs experience both in Toyota & Suzuki, Looking for Service Engineer jobs. Contact 92449426 Email: praveennair_s@yahoo.com Electrical Engineer 7 yrs experience. Contact 94285868 Mechanical Engg with 6 yrs exp in electromechanical work D/L, seeks job. Contact:98520020 Indian male Diploma in Electronics seeking an opportunity for highly skilled Electronic technician with 10 years experience. Contact 93269820 Resi: +914802734079 / +919946888723, Email: davis.dinosh3@gmail.com Indian male 25 years, B.Tech in Electronics & Communication Engineering (Automation or Instrumentation Engineer) with 1+ year India experience in Automation PLC, SCADA, DCS, HMI AC & DC Drives, Seeking suitable placement. Contact 92151143/ 92151143 Indian male B.E (E&C) 1years experience in sales, seeking suitable job. Contact 91125082 Email: althafms.ms1@gmail.com B. Sc in Civil Engineer with Oman experience urgently seeking suitable placement. Contact +968 93523630 / +88 01728 199656, Email engg_shahalamce@yahoo.com Sri Lankan Quantity surveyor (male) with 7 years experience (including Gulf), looking for a suitable placement in Oman, available in Oman for personal interviews and discussions. Contact 91308391/ 96953676 Email msa.ifham@yahoo.com Indian female B.Tech Civil Engg, 3 years experience (6 months in Oman) in QS, estimation, cost control and planning, seeks suitable job. Contact 92047375 Email: vinujosephcm@gmail.com

INFORMATION TECH Telecom Technician Indian male 25 with 5 yrs of Gulf exp & valid UAE driving license.#– 97458637 Email haroon_khanhyd@yahoo.com BSC Computer science Diploma in information technology plus 1 year software experience with Omani driving License. Contact 91036088 or 99297610 Interested in Marketing & Sales too. Bachelors degree in Computer Science, applied to Management having 4 years in Web development, Web Marketing and Search engine optimization manager, looking for a job. Contact 94393250 System administrator with two years experience in Bangalore B-COM ,CCNA,MCSA, MCP AND A+ looking for a suitable post in Oman Contact 91148576 shameer.alic@gmail.com IT Professional Indian male 20 years IT & Finance experience Software, Hardware Development ERP Implementation & System, Network Administration, seeks suitable placement. Contact 93760896

S AT U R D AY, N O V E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 3

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED

INFORMATION TECH 9 years exp. IT Security and Coordination ex Apple UPMG, MCSA: Security, security + certiﬁed Eu citizen from Arabic origin. Contact 93605740 Systems Engineer (B. Tech), female 23 years with 2 years experience at Infosys, Looking for placement . ADO.NET, ASP.NET, Web Services, AJAX, Unix Commands & Utilities, Visual Studio, SQL Server. Contact 96206550 Email jobbforit@gmail.com Project Management professional (MBA, PMP, BE), 16+ years experience with leading MNC Banks and Technology companies and working in a leading bank in Muscat seeks suitable placement. Contact 94336432 Welding Foreman, Indian Male, 18 years experience (Argon, Arc & Mig) offshore & onshore, worked with NPCC (Abu Dhabi), USA, & Cochin Shipyard India, Contact 98430843, mashamaga@yahoo.com

IT Engineer Indian with 5 years Experience in support Engineer, IT Tech Support, Quality Analyst, IT Help desk, Customer Service and Sales, Worked in Dell International and in New Horizon Doha, seeking suitable position. Contact: 97320161, mohdazeezuddin24@gmail.com

Indian Male 46 yrs having 20 years of experience as a supervisor in Construction of highway roads & runways in Oman, UAE & Qatar, Looking for suitable job. Contact 99180369/ +91-9550288220

9 yrs Exp IT Desktop/ Network support Filipino Male B.S. Comp Eng CCNA W/ 5 yrs exp in Qatar visit visa in Oman. Contact 91319643 Email hikaph2002@yahoo.com

Indian female Keralite B.Sc Nursing with MOH license, 3 years experience. Contact 99658395 presently in Oman.

IT professional Indian male (ME/ CSE), 12 years experience (Oman, UAE, India) in IT project management , administration, software development in dot net, sales providing training, technical & customer support looking for suitable opportunity having valid D/L available immediately. Contact 96437794 Email: ephin0204@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS

Indian female 24 years MSc Software Engineering working for one year in Oman as Office admin, seeks suitable placement. Contact 93886547 / 95227395

Fisheries Graduate Indian male, 28 yrs with certiﬁcate in F.S.M.S & 4 yrs experience in food processing industry seeks suitable openings. Contact 92123983, email : vikasvelayudhan@yahoo.com

Indian male, 24, having 2.5 yrs exp in O & M - Network Operation Center Engineer Telecom having certiﬁcation of CCNA & MCTS, looking for suitable placement IT & Telecom. Contact 99689445 Email thousi4jb@gmail.com

Indian male, 11 yrs experience in India, working in Govt. Company in Oman, well experienced in Purchase/ imports/ Exports L.C. procedures seeks placement in Asst. manager / Supervisor Cadre. Contact 99185929

Indian female - M.Sc, Computer Science 5 yrs experience in teaching and 1yr experience in programming (JAVA, VB, power builder, Mysql, Oracle) seeking suitable placement. Contact 99713021 Email ID: anjukaviraj@gmail.com

Indian Male 27 yrs having experience in Industrial electrical work in Oman & Abu Dhabi reﬁnery, looking for suitable job, presently on visit. Contact 97221020 / 95123766

IT Technical System support/ Hardware Engineer on visit visa. Contact 98221577 / 93320458 Indian male Computer Engineer MCSE, CCNA, Hardware and Networking 6+ experience 2+ yrs experience in Oman, seeking good job. Contact 92994651 Indian female, B.Tech + MBA, IT Engineer, 5+ yrs exp. as voice & video eng/ operation management, seeking appropriate placement. Contact 97712425 / 95749987, Email: rincy.raju21@gmail.com Indian female, Computer Engineer, 2 years exp in Programming & ERP, on Family Visa seeking placement in IT or Teaching 93406463 (Wadikabir). Indian male 27 years old, Masters in Computer Applications with 4+ years experience, Key skills: Oracle Pl/sql and .net Seeking Suitable placement.# +919538345624 sujithchennat@gmail.com System Engineer with 6 yrs of exp as desktop/ IT Support Engineer currently in Muscat on visit visa, seeks suitable placement. Contact 92933523 / 91378150 Email : manumonm@hotmail.com IT Support Engineer Indian male, 27 yrs currently in Muscat on visit visa 6 yrs of exp as IT Support Engineer, seeking suitable placement. Contact 92933523 / 91378150 , Email : manojp14@gmail.com Indian 4 years experienced SAP ABAP & BI Consultant seeking suitable job. Contact # 94363446 Sudanese Programmer having 2 years experience and certiﬁcate of the American University in Cairo. Contact 97273589

MANAGER/ SUPER

MEDICAL

Male Nurse 2 years experience with MOH license, presently working in chemical company as a emergency nurse. Contact: 94068735, shahnaku7@gmail.com Arabic dentist with MOH license looking for suitable placement. Contact 91138009 Indian female Keralite GNM with MOH license 7 years experience, seeks suitable placement. Presently in Oman. Contact 93191263 Obs/Gynae Medical Officer, MOH licence,8 years experience in gulf countries,searching suitable job in Muscat. Contact 96260671 Female Radiographer holding M.O.H License with 6 years experience, seeking suitable post. Contact 93017124 Male Nurse (BSc Nursing) with MOH License experience in Emergency Trauma care, looking for a suitable position. Contact 98435304 / 99657116 Indian female Dentist age 29 yrs, exp 4 years, looking for suitable opening. Contact 93386632

Indian male 29 yrs B.Com 5 yrs exp store/ purchase with knowledge of Tally ERP.9 with driving license. Contact - 97448649

Nursing caregiver, qualiﬁed & experienced Nurse & Assist Nurse seeks good placement at home / clinic. Contact 92989109 email: medicoport@gmail.com

Indian male with 7 yrs experience working in Doha Qatar as HVAC designer, looking for suitable position. Contact +97470361931

Male Nurse 8 years experience MOH license Oman BLS ACLS certiﬁcate, Currently in Muscat. # 97141787 Email sreejithks2006@yahoo.co.in

Indian male 23, M.Sc in Biotechnology with excellent proﬁciency in English & computer, seeking suitable work opportunity in life science and Industrial ﬁeld, Currently on visit visa. Contact 95166242 / Email jaykishan.parekh@live.co.uk

Male Nurse with MOH license valid GCC driving license. Contact 93217438 / 91226236

Indian male, 28 yrs, B.Com with over 8 years experience (4 years in Oman) in accounting up to ﬁnalization, experience in Tally Erp9, fox pro, smart pos and expert in MS Office, D/L seeking suitable placement. GSM : 93069890 Email : ammuknpy007@gmail.com, Indian female 25 years, MSC MICRO Biology, Looking for placement in food or medicine industry or laboratory experience one year in dairy farm. Contact 92255983

MANAGER/ SUPER Indian Male 32, with academic excellence (MBA) has 7.2 years of high quality experience (includes GCC) & professional achievements in Business Administration, Customer Services, Marketing & Sales. Contact 95899314; todhanesh@gmail.com Senior Manager, 20+ yrs experience in Purchase, Sales, Admin & Accounts seeks immediate placement. Contact 98942117 Purchase / procurement officer, gulf exp, having Oman driving license PH : 93243846

SECRETARIAL/OFFICE Indian Female, 6 years experience in Secretarial, Administration, Coordination holding Oman Driving License seeking suitable placement. Contact 95196052, 95269592. 20 Years of experience in Secretarial job in Oman, seeking suitable placement. Contact 98987461

SALES / MARKETING Sales Exe with diploma / ITI in electrical / net working/ ﬁre Safety Engineering with D/L. Fax: 24787258 Email: orisonmct@gmail.com Indian male having 4 years experience in Sales & Marketing excellent knowledge of Oman Market currently in Banking Industry, Looking for Managerial position. Contact 99657804 Indian male, MBA, 6 yrs exp in Sales, Marketing, Market research & operations, looking for opportunities. Contact 98823315 MBA, B.Tech Indian Male having 6 years experience Marketing/ Sales/ Business development/ promotional/ Branding in Oil & Gas, HVAC, Firms, seeks immediate placement. Contact 91256806

SALES / MARKETING 15 years of Oman exposure. Smart Indian Male with MBA. Experienced in Oilfield Products (Upstream) & Security systems as Sales & Marketing Manager, seeks suitable placement in a senior position. Contact 99639375 Indian male 26yrs MBA Marketing 5yrs of experience in sales & market with valid Omani Driving license looking for a suitable placement. Contact: 94080049 / 95138285. Over 10 years experience (Oman) in operations / SLA Management BD Project Management with MBA – Ops PMP trained ITIL certified ISO auditor seeks suitable placement. Contact 95490577 Indian male 33 yrs B.E Mechanical, MBA Marketing over 8 yrs of work experience in Technical Sales Marketing project - Execution quality control, seeking suitable placement in senior level with Oman D/L. Contact 97645293 31 male, MBA (UK) with over 10 years experience in BD/OPS, sales and marketing with valid Omani D/L, seeks suitable placement. Contact 94480878 Indian male, 30 yrs, M.B.A 6 yrs experience in Indian in sales and customer service excellent in M.S. office and communication skills in Oman on visit visa. Contact 91380575 Indian male 30 yrs, MBA marketing with 6+ yrs managerial experience (sales) seeks Managerial position in Marketing / Sales business development service retail / product manufacturing industry. Contact Avijit 96726408 27 Yrs Indian Male PGDM with 3.5 yrs experience in pricing, Customer relationship management, corporate communication, seeking suitable opportunity in Oman, in Banking or Sales and Marketing management. Email : bijuphilip55@gmail.com Contact 97780758 / 0091 9535685920 MBA Graduate with 5+ years experience in handling international brands digital marketing activities. Linkedin: Pravin Corera. Contact 98541064 Email: pravincorera@gmail.com Sales girl/, female Secretary from India looking for job. Contact 95175192 Indian male, 28 yrs, B.Com, 3 yrs GCC experience, looking for suitable post in Sales, with valid license. Contact 92609068, sharafupa@gmail.com Indian male 26 y with 4 years Oman experience in Logistic (Shipping, Freight forwarding, warehousing) 1 year experience in Sales & Marketing furniture, Valid Oman and Dubai driving license. #92603717 Indian male 26 yrs experience 2 yrs Sales / Account Assistant, seeking suitable placement marketing & sales / store assistant. #95763201 Business Development Executive 7 years in Experience, Currently with Telecommunication Project Management with qualification PGDMMarketing (UK) & BBA, Seeking for opening in new threshold, logistics, FMCG, Supply Chain Management and Consumer Products. Available to join immediately, D/L Oman. Contact 93833276 Email bonamiereems@gmail.com Young dynamic / MBA Marketing having 8 years experience with Omani driving license seeking suitable position. Contact 91199054 / 94135599 Email: zeshan_84@yahoo.com 23 years Indian male BBA Marketing / Finance 1 year experience in Sales & Marketing, looking for suitable placement in Sales / Marketing / coordination / retail/ admin jobs. Contact 98418208 / 99229357 Aman Maheshwari Looking for Sales Executive job 28 years 5 years experience having D/L Oman experience in F.M.C.G. Contact 96075110 Indian female 28 yrs more than 2 years of professional experience in concept selling, worked with India Today Group as Executive in Space Marketing, seeks suitable placement in Muscat ready to join immediately. Contact 94210400 Email ID: susanpallathra@yahoo.co.in Male 32 yrs, 10 yrs experience sales, events, administration, graphics looking for job. # 93850612

Young dynamic MBA Marketing Graduate, seeking suitable post. Contact 98744427 / 96909495 Indian National with 20 years experience in Sales/ Port operation with shipping line/ Freight forwarder, looking suitable positions, in Salalah/ Muscat. Contact 93751004 Email sreekumar_vnair@yahoo. com Male 28, B.Com, having over 8 years of experience in Sales & Marketing, Valid D/L, seeking for a suitable placement.Contact:96662739 or E-Mail at sidd9191@yahoo.com Sales & Marketing professional, GCC experienced, Indian male, 30 yrs, having Oman driving license, seeks suitable placement. Contact 97386097 Indian male 22 years, Bachelor of Mass Media BMM (in Adverting) (on visit visa), seeking suitable placements in any Advertising/ Marketing/ Media ﬁrm or in any Organization for suitable post or Sales Executive. Contact 92564934 / 99333752 Email tehseen_khan34@yahoo.com sg_khan786@yahoo.com Male, 32 yrs, 10 years experience sales, events, administration, graphic designing seeking suitable job. Contact 93850612

TOURS & TRAVELS Female 24yrs Indian Graduate in BBA and IATA,1 yr experience Ticketing Clerk in Air India Express Office looking Suitable position in Tours and Travels. Contact97077215

MISCELLANEOUS Indian male 26yrs MBA Marketing 5yrs of experience in sales & market with valid Omani Driving license looking for a suitable placement. Contact: 94080049 / 95138285. Telecom Technician Indian male 25 with 5 yrs of Gulf exp & valid UAE driving license. Contact 97458637 / Email haroon_khanhyd@yahoo.com Indian male 29 yrs B.Com 5 yrs exp store/ purchase with knowledge of Tally ERP.9 with driving license. Contact 97448649 24 yrs female with driving license, BBA plus I.A.T.A, 3 years experience seeking suitable position in secretarial, admin, HR, procurement, travel. Contact 95337828 or e-mail at hibhak@gmail.com Indian female MCA., Mphil in computer Science having 5 yrs of experience in teaching(Lecturer in college) seeking for teaching position (school or college). Contact :97765173. mail:dtkthillai@gmail.com Indian male seeking suitable placement for carpenter and aluminum cutter. Experience have Oman and Suadi. Contact- 94409181 Indian male 20 years exp, Senior Civil Engineer looking placement in consultancy/contracting ﬁrm. Contact abdul.adc@gmail.com 26 year Indian Chartered Accountant male with 2yrs of experience is seeking suitable placement in Muscat. Contact 98201476 or email at venkat230684@gmail.com Indian Male, 30.Y. Looking for Job of an Accountant having 9.5 years of experience, having knowledge of Tally, Oracle based ORION, Quickbooks Looking for suitable Position very soon. Contact on: 92629133 Indian male, Showroom Sales Executive 5 years experience in Showroom sales. Contact : 94043327 sadiksm@yahoo.com Indian male,32, with 8 yrs exp,4 yrs in Oman in electrical/bldng material and lighting with reputed companies. Holding Omani driving license seeks suitable placement Contact 99173560. sajjadkhan247@gmail.com BE (Hons) in Electronic & Telecommunication, Paki male fresh candidate, seeking suitable placement in Oil & Gas or any electronic industry, able to design electronic circuits, well experienced in computers electronic, Currently living in Muscat. Contact# 98068695, Email mzeeshanshaikh89@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Indian, male, B.Sc having 16 years experience in marketing with valid Oman driving license seeks suitable placement. Contact 92722408 Young Male Graduate BA Hons (Marketing)- United Kingdom with 2 years experience & driving licence seeks suitable placement in Business development/Brand management/Logistics. Call – 96402727 MBA (Marketing and HR) & B.Tech (Electronics and Biomedical Engineering) with 1.5 years experience in marketing and media field. Contact 96175799 Email: aadil.azis@gmail.com 27 years Indian male 8 years’ Indian market experience in the field of Event Management, Sales & Customer Service, looking for a challenging opportunity in Muscat in relevant field. Contact # 96167803 Indian Male, B.Tech, 8 years Experience in Teaching & Admin, web developing ,c,c++,java,HTML,DHTM L,programming,looking for suitable position 98290053, 97068258 Email: vasanth.blessy@gmail.com B.Tech Mechanical, 26yr Indian male having 4 yr experience in plant construction,structural fabrication & erection in India. # 0091 9546418417 E-mailmail2umesh89@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer with 5+ years experience in project management and estimation of oil and gas projects. Looking for suitable change. Contact: 95974435 Civil Quantity Surveryor, Diploma in Civil Engineering, 2 years QS and site experience in building projects, looking for suitable post in Oman. Contact: 91378212/92959092. Email: mohamednishil@gmail.com Planning Engineer having M Tech in Construction Management with 2 years experience. Currently employed for a reputed company construction company in Oman. Proficient in Primavera P3 and P6. Mob; 98278801 / 99461643 e-mail id; asifkutiady@gmail.com Female 23 Indian Graduate in Computer application and Diploma in Java technology, seeking for a suitable placement in IT sector currently on visit visa. Contact 99809810 / 92105790 Indian male, MCA, MBA-HR, B.Com with 9.5 yrs. Exp. looking for a suitable opportunity as IT Project Head & SAP HR Consultant (Multi tasking) presently come on visit visa in Oman, Contact GSM : +968 92801761 E-mail : rishhi@msn.com Rigar Foreman, 6 yrs exp. looking for job. Contact 95628657 / 0091 9430161950 Indian female Dentist age 28 yrs, 4 yrs experience, looking for suitable opening. Contact 92970882 Indian Expat B.Com MBA( Finance) with 5.5 years in GCC having valid Oman driving license, seeking opening in Marketing/ Sales / Customer services. Contact 97881402 Seek Job - Office Boy & Cleaner (Need Visa). Contact : 96136615. Pakistani male, Graduation, experience in warehousing / storekeeping / logistics worked with international organization and skill with MS Office, currently here in Muscat with visit visa and seeking suitable post in Muscat / Oman, full time. Contact # 99547791 email malikrizwan2008@gmail.com India male 36 yrs, MBA with 12 yrs of experience in life and non life insurance field 3yrs in oman with motor and non motor field valid Oman D/L, seeks suitable position for same field or any sales and marketing. Contact +968 98159932. Indian male, B. Com with TallyERP 9.0 and Maharastra state CIT looking for suitable job, call 95534746 Business Analyst and Business Development, 6+ years of experience across all areas of pricing, marketing, product development and sales in telecom industry seeking for job opportunities. MBA. Contact: 99359870, 99031408. Email: saikat_3@yahoo.com An Indian Expatriate B. Com, with PG in IT having Experience in Accounts looking for a suitable placement. Contact- 93918062

S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 3

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

TOURS

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

We arrange Tours to Jabel Alakhdar / Shames wahiba Sands. Contact 99839898

RENT A CAR

BUSINESS

Looking for Investor/ partner in building material / construction business in Oman. nterested parties can contact 95824598 Restaurant + coffee shop with seating capacity of 50 people and potential to make 90 (with mezzanine in running condition doing excellent business in a prime business location at Wattayah is available for purchase / investment. Interested parties may please call on 97414513 or 96344753 CANADIAN company. for immigration & manpower is looking for a partner in Oman with license !For contact evro21@gmail.com 0097333054453 A well running Civil contracting company LLC doing ministry work, looking for new sponsor and investor or partner. Contact 96726115

Looking for investor in building material/constitution business in Oman interested parties can. Contact 95824598

FOR HIRE

Looking for Omani partner for business development services. Contact 93194825 Email: edumass4@gmail.com

MANPOWER We can provide (supply) for 6 months or 1 year cleaners, Office boys and helpers. Contact : 94151939/ 95788339 Email: alkindi07@yahoo.com

Cranes and excavators available on hire. Contact 99209427 Crane Trailor Hiab. # 99354909

Party & Wedding equipment rentals. Full line, from Tables, Linen & Skirting, Chairs & Chair covers, Cutlery, Crockery, Glassware, Chafing Dishes, Ice Sculptures, to Large Sound Systems and spectacular lighting. Call Andrea 9606 2222 for Catering and Croyden 9623 5555 for Sound & Light. www.tunesoman.com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com For Rent Truck Tipper 18 m. Contact 95120774

FOR HIRE 25/ 50 seater Buses for rent/ leasing with drivers in PDO SpeciďŹ cation. Contact 99839898

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s publication.* Subject to space availability

S AT U R D AY, N O V E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 3

DAILY GUIDE

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

FOR LADIES

SERVICES

Special package for RO. 15/(Threading, facial, waxing, pedicure, manicure, hot oil treatment) . Contact 99722031

COMPUTER

WEBSITE

CLASSES

MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. #24793614/ 99314807

GULF INTERNATIONAL LLC all kind of pest control. Contact 92326955

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998

Catering and Other support Services anywhere in Oman for Companies. Staff / Labour Accomodation. available in Sohar, Barka and Nizwa. Telephone No.94104987, 97884967, 95740387, E-Mail : catering@gstoman.com

A/C, Fridge & Washing Machine servicing & Repairing. Painting , Plumbing, Electrical & Carpentry Works. Contact 97014234/ 24504281 / 99447257 Carpet, sofa- cleaning, glue removing, shampooing, house cleaning, polishing & painting etc. Contact – 99542979 / 98855815 House shifting, packing and Transportation. Contact 99657644 / 98518013

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

Learn baking cakes & icing, sugarcraft, handicrafts, creative waterfalls. Contact 96761960

Electrical Plumbing Painting Contract and Maintenance. Contact #98456535

Learn Arabic in two months, spoken Arabic class for non Arabic speakers by Gulf experience post Graduate Teacher in Ruwi. Free introductory class. Satisfaction guaranteed. Contact 95244310

Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS99320217 /24788722

Learn Drawing & painting for children. (MBD area Ruwi)} Contact 95308320

Marble polishing & crystallization building cleaning ﬂoor, ﬂoor polishing, carpet, sofa shampooing pest control, anti termite, shifting, maintenance. Contact 99504275

Carpet, sofa- cleaning, glue removing, shampooing, house cleaning, polishing & painting etc. Contact – 99542979 / 98855815 A/ C maintenance, servicing & installation. Split A/C Servicing RO 10.000 Only. Contact 94217681 / 99210141 Marble polishing & crystallization building cleaning floor, floor polishing, carpet, sofa shampooing, pest control, anti termite, shifting, maintenance. Contact 99504275 Door to Door Computers repair specialist laptop software Website cartridges.Contact 99199376 House Items shifting. Contact 99557080 / 99380307 Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722

Split & Window AC Servicing & repairing. Contact 99557080 Split & Window A.C Servicing & repairing. Contact 99380307 Split /window A/C SERVICING 5/10R.O. Contact 95084850 Marble restoration Crystallization, Cleaning carpets sofas, Villas, Flats. Contact 24701281 / 97463079 Pest control water proof. Contact 99067923

Electrical Works, Maintenance, Building Gas Pipelines, Fire Alarm & Security systems. Contact Amjad Majees Trading & Contracting: 99467936 For all your maintenance needs including, Painting, Plumbing, Electricity, Laying of interlock tiles, marbles etc. Tel: 99383574 Mr Chandran

MANPOWER

Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS99320217 /24788722 Painting Interlock plumbing maintenance. Contact 92142319 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 A/C service RO7/- , repairing & installation, painting, building all maintenance. Contact 95563858 / 99326786

We supply manpower locally for contracting companies, masons & helpers. Contact Nasser: 99786772 We Supply Mason, Carpenter, Steel ﬁxer, Electrician, Plumber, Driver, Labours, Enggs, operators etc, All Categories. Contact 94034550/ 95059766 Email rubinaokp@gmail.com