T19 09 2013 by Sahir Vayappat

32 178

6 085010 120010

COULD THIS TEEN BE THE NEXT BIG THING IN POP? Teens and Temara Melek probably share the same mutual interests. She worships One Direction, loves the crazy sensation Miley Cyrus, and counts Jessie J as one of her major inﬂuences. >B7

THURSDAY, September 19, 2013 / 13 DHUL QA’ADA 1434 AH

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ISO 9001:2008 Certiﬁed Company

A L L E G AT I O N

Worker seeks OMR10m for ‘unfair dismissal’ STAFF REPORTER

MUSCAT: A worker has sought OMR10 million in compensation from his employer for alleged “unfair dismissal”, according to the company’s posting on the Muscat Securities Market website last week. The company stated in its website posting that the concerned

department of the Manpower Ministry would take steps to settle the dispute amicably, else the matter would be referred to a relevant court. The company, which manufactures and markets a variety of electrical products, has not disclosed if the complainant is an Omani national or an expatriate from over 800 of its employees.

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

HUMANITARIAN CRISIS: Syrian refugees from Aleppo beg with their mother, left, on the steps of a bank in Beirut, yesterday. Some

seven million people are in urgent need of humanitarian aid due to the conﬂict in Syria, a UN top official said. -AFP

OMAN

Three arrested on drug trafficking charges

Russia, Syria look to foil UN resolution Blaming the rebels for August 21 sarin gas attack, Russia slammed the ‘biased’ UN report

BEIRUT: Damascus and key ally Moscow joined forces yesterday in a bid to thwart plans for a Western-backed UN resolution on Syria’s chemical weapons that allows the use of force. Russia came out swinging, saying the Syrian regime had handed over new evidence implicating the rebels in an August 21 sarin gas attack near Damascus that

killed hundreds, while slamming a UN report into the incident as “biased”. Syria, boosted by a visit to Damascus by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, thanked Moscow for its support and said it was conﬁdent the UN would not adopt a Chapter VII resolution that would allow the use of force.

The twin-pronged diplomatic counter-offensive came as UN chemical weapons inspectors confirmed they would be returning to Syria for additional investigations into the use of the deadly weapons in the country’s conflict. Russia and the United States continued to trade accusations about who was to blame for the sarin attack that the chemical weapons inspectors confirmed in a report this week. Despite having jointly agreed a deal under which Syria will turn over its chemical weapons stock, the two nations remain at loggerheads over who carried out the attack. Russia says the Syrian regime

had handed over new evidence implicating the rebels in the deadly incident. But US President Barack Obama has said it was “inconceivable” that anyone other than the Syrian regime could have carried out the attack. The international community is also divided over the wording of a UN Security Council resolution on the US-Russian deal, with Moscow strongly opposing a Chapter VII resolution. Syria’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Faisal Muqdad, said yesterday that Damascus was conﬁdent the UN would not adopt a Chapter VII resolution. -AFP See also >A6

The Royal Oman Police officers arrested three suspects, including a citizen and two people of Asian nationality, on charges of drug trafficking and possessing narcotic substances. >A2

INDIA

MARKET

UP MLAs face arrest

NDC plans expansion

The NDC has launched an aggressive plan to increase capacities for certain product ranges and is aiming for higher growth in these categories. >B1

A court in North India ordered the arrest of dozens of suspects including politicians and community leaders for inciting violence during recent riots. >A8

Samba Futsal Centre opened

A14

T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 3

OMAN

Three arrested on drug charges A drug peddler who was arrested, was found possessing about one-and-ahalf kg of heroin, two traditional weapons

INFILTRATORS DEPORTED: Eighty-eight inﬁltrators were deport-

and OMR3,000

ed after taking necessary legal action in coordination with the embassies of their respective countries. –Supplied picture

Times News Service MUSCAT: Royal Oman Police (ROP) officers have arrested three suspects, including a citizen and two people of Asian nationality, on the charges of drug trafficking and possessing narcotic substances, in Hamriyah area of the wilayat of Muttrah. The citizen was arrested with 20 heroin capsules while two others were arrested for possessing 55 capsules. The raid was carried out following an information about the citizen receiving drugs from Asians who were part of larger network operating from the Asian countries. Legal action against the accused was initiated and they have been referred to the court. Drug trafficker held The ROP has also arrested a citizen from Sur Al Mazari area in the wilayat of Shinas on the charges of possessing and trading in drugs. A source at the Northern Batinah police said the accused was associated with an international gang of drug smugglers. He was arrested with about one -and-a-half kilogram of heroin. He had concealed the drugs inside his undergarments along with two traditional weapons and

OMR3,000 in cash. Legal measures have been initiated against the accused and he was referred to the public prosecution for investigation. The ROP has called upon the citizens and residents for further cooperation to combat drugs and report any suspicious actions of those promoting narcotics drugs and psychotropic substances by calling the hotline 1444 or Emergency line 9999. Absconding maids Meanwhile, the ROP’s Directorate General of Inquiries and Criminal Investigations personnel raided a hotel in the Al Khuwair area of the wilayat of Bausher and arrested 12 absconding Asian women for indulging in prostitution. An ROP official said the accused were in custody and were referred to the Public Prosecution. 137 inﬁltrators held The ROP has arrested 137 inﬁltrators of different nationalities from different places in the Sultanate. The arrest comes as a result of collaboration with military and security personnel during the past week. Those arrested had entered the country illegally and 88 of them were deported after taking nec-

essary legal action in coordination with the embassies of their respective countries. The ROP has called upon the citizens and residents cooperate with legal authorities to combat this phenomenon by promptly reporting such cases to the police either by calling the emergency phone 9999 or visiting the nearest police station. The ROP has appealed people to deny any help to the inﬁltrators in any way because such cooperation encourages such negative phenomenon. 85 labour law violators held The ROP carried out raids in the early hours yesterday at a number of locations in the wilayat of Ibri and arrested 54 people for violation of labour law. The arrested people hailed from various Asian nationalities, and six of them were also found possessing alcohol and cigarettes. In the northern Batinah, the ROP carried out a similar raid and arrested 31 violators of labour law, all of Asian origin. The operation was part of the ROP’s initiative to catch inﬁltrators and labour law violators across all governorates. The raids in Ibri and Sohar were conducted after receiving information about the presence of a group of such violators.

T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 3

FIND-IT-ALL

PRAYER TIMINGS

W E AT H E R

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

12.06pm 3.32pm 6.12pm 7.22pm 4.39am

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 Al Hashar, Ruwi1 24 Hr Br. Tel. 24537080 Muscat, Al Sarooj. Tel: 24695536 Belqees, Al Khoudh (OIB) Tel. 24535398 Belqees, Ma’abelah. Tel: 24454624 Dhofar Region Muscat, Al Nahdha Road, Salalah. Tel. 23291635

lear to partly cloudy skies along the coastal areas of Dhofar governorate and adjoining mountains. Mainly clear skies over rest of the Sultanate with chance of early morning low clouds along the coastal areas of south Al-Sharqiya and Al-Wusta governorates over Al-Hajar mountains and adjoining areas towards afternoon associated with fresh downdraft wind.

EXPECTED WIND: Along the coastal areas of Oman sea the wind will be northeasterly light to moderate during day becoming variable light at night and over rest of the Sultanate wind will be southeasterly light to moderate.

HOSPITALS 1st Chiropractic Centre: 24472274 Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre: 24485052 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 Hamdan Hospital: 23212340 International Medical Centre LLC: 24794501/2/3/4/5 Kims Oman Hospital: 24760100 24 Hrs Emergency: 24760123 Lama Polyclinic, Sohar: 26751128,

SEA STATE: Slight to moderate along the southeastern coast with a maximum wave height of 1.5 metres and slight along the rest of Oman’s coasts with maximum wave height of 1.0 metre. SURFACE VISIBILITY: Good over most of the Sultanate becoming poor during thundershowers and fog.

OMAN Max 38 Min 33

Max 35 Min 28

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

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

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, SatWed 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, Thursday: 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

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

Max 34 Min 29 L O N G D I S TA N C E B U S T I M I N G S ( O M A N N AT I O N A L T R A N S P O R T C O M PA N Y S A O C ) * S U B J E C T T O C H A N G E

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI)

Max 41 Min 26

Max 42 Min 29

Max 36 Min 29

Max 41 Min 26

MEXICO: Residents wait for help in Acapulco, state of Guerrero, Mexico, on Tuesday as heavy rains hit the country. Mexican authorities scrambled to launch an air lift to evacuate tens of thousands of tourists stranded amid ﬂoods in the resort of Acapulco following a pair of deadly storms. The official death toll rose to 47 after the tropical storms, Ingrid and Manuel, swarmed large swaths of the country during a three-day holiday weekend, sparking landslides and causing rivers to overﬂow in several states. — AFP

Max 28 Min 25 —www.met.gov.om

WORLD

Max 25 Min 14 Max 16 Min 10

Max 34 Min 26

Max 35 Min 23 Max 19 Min 9

Max 30 Min 26

Max 26 Min 15

Max 25 Min 10

Abu Dhabi Doha Dubai Kuwait Manama Riyadh Athens Baghdad Barbados Beijing Berlin Boston Brussels Buenos Aires Cairo Chicago Colombo Copenhagen Dublin Frankfurt Harare Hong Kong Istanbul Jerusalem Johannesburg

Max

Min

38 41 44 43 37 44 28 40 29 26 17 27 19 24 37 27 30 19 17 16 22 30 26 31 26

28 30 33 32 30 27 21 23 26 17 10 12 10 12 25 15 25 13 8 11 6 25 18 20 10

Kuala Lumpur Lisbon London Madrid Manila Mexico City Miami Moscow New Delhi New York Oslo Panama Paris Perth Prague Rio de Janeiro Santiago Seoul Singapore Stockholm Sydney Taipei Tokyo Toronto Vienna

Max

Min

35 25 16 28 30 21 36 13 35 25 18 29 19 19 22 25 14 28 32 19 25 31 29 24 18

22 18 10 14 26 15 26 8 23 14 9 24 15 12 13 16 3 21 27 10 10 27 22 16 11

EVENTS

‘Dear Liar’, theatre play, Oman Auditorium, Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz Carlton Hotel on September 20, 2013 at 6:30pm.

Muscat Int Jewellery Exhibition, 8 to 12 October, Oman International Exhibition Centre.

Indian Social Club (Malayalam Wing) Onam celeberation (19, 20 & 21 September 2013) Al Falaj Hotel.

GHEDEX (Autumn), 28 to 29 October 2013, Oman International Exhibition Centre.

Kadim Al Sahir Concert at Royal Opera House Muscat on October 9 and 10.

International Travel and Hospitality Show, 14th to 16th December 2013, Oman International Exhibition Centre.

Oman Office Show, 16 to 18 September, Oman International Exhibition Centre.

Women Expo, 17 to 19 December, Oman International Exhibition Centre.

Barney’s Let’s Go, Live on stage, Qurum Amphitheatre, October 25 & 26.

Family Shopping Exhibition, 25 to 31 December, Oman International Exhibition Centre.

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 MUSCAT (RUWI)

Operating Days Daily Daily Daily

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

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

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO SINAW (Route 52) 17:30 Sinaw

20:50

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

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 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

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

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

Daily

TO SINAW (Route 52) 07:00 Ruwi

10:25

Daily

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

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

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

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 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 LISTINGS 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

CINEMA SCHEDULE

BAHJA CINEMA The Family (Action /Crime) (12+) Cast: Robert De Niro, Michelle Pﬁeffer, Tommy Lee Jones 2:45, 9:30, 11:45pm; CP No: 822 Percy Jackson 2 : Sea of Monsters (3D) (Adventure/Fantasy) (PG) Cast: Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, Brandon T. Jackson 5:00, 7:15pm; CP No: 804 Planes (3D) (Animation/ Adventure) (PG) Cast: Carlos Alazraqui, Dane Cook 2:00, 3:45pm; CP No:808 Battle of the Year (3D) (Dance/Music) (12+) Cast: Chris Brown, Josh Peck, Laz Alonso 5:30pm; CP No:839 The Colony (Action/Thriller) (15+) Cast: Laurence Fishburne, Bill Paxton7:45pm; CP No:792 Aftershock (Horror/Thriller) (18+) Cast: Eli Roth, Ariel Levy, Nicolas Martinez 9:45, 11:30pm; CP No:841 Getaway (Action/Crime) (12+) Cast: Ethan Hawke, Selena Gomez, Jon Voight 3:15, 5:15pm; CP No:796 Prisoners (Drama) (12+) Cast: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal 7:15pm; CP No:828 In Their Skin (Horror/Thriller) (12+) Cast: Selma Blair, Joshua Close, James D’Arcy 10:00, 11:45pm; CP No:835

Getaway (Action / Crime) (12+) Cast: Ethan Hawke, Selena Gomez 2:00, 4:00pm; CP No: 797 The Family (Action/Crime) (12+) Cast: Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer 6:00, 11:00pm; CP No 823 Phata Poster Nikla Hero (Action/ Comedy) (12+)

Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Ileana D’cruz 8:15pm; CP No 845 Battle of the Year (3D) (Dance) (12+) Cast: Chris Brown, Josh Peck, Laz Alonso 12:30, 5:00pm; CP No 840 Percy Jackson 2 : Sea of Monsters (3D) (Adventure/Fantasy) (PG) Cast: Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario 2:45, 7:00pm; CP No 803 The Family (Action/Crime) (12+) Cast: Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Tommy Lee jones 9:00, 11:30pm; CP No:823 Planes (3D) (Animation/Comedy Adventure) (PG) Cast: Carlos Alazraqui, Dane Cook 11:30am, 1:30, 3:30pm; CP No:809 Mosawer Qateel (Thriller) (15+) Cast: Eyad Nassar, Dorra, Horreya Farghaly 5:15pm; CP No:832 Phata Poster Nikla Hero (Comedy) (12+) Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Ileana D’cruz 7:15pm; CP No:845 Aftershock (Horror/Thriller) (18+) Cast: Eli Roth, Ariel Levy, Nicolas Martinez 10:00, 11:45pm; CP No: 842

PLAZA 1 Phata Poster Nikla Hero (Action/ Comedy) (12+) Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Ileana D’cruz 3:30, 6:15, 11:45pm; CP No:849 Grand Masti (Comedy) (18+) Cast: Vivek Oberoi, Ritesh Deshmukh, Aftab Shivdasani 9:00pm; CP No:815 PLAZA 2 Grand Masti (Comedy) (18+) 3:30, 6:30pm; CP No:815 Phata Poster Nikla Hero (Action/ Comedy) (12+) 9:00pm; CP No:849 Shuddh Desi Romance (Hindi) (Comedy/Romance) (PG)

Cast: Parineeti Chopra, Sushant Singh Rajput, Vaani Kapoor 11:45 pm; CP No:790 PLAZA 3 Chennai Express (Action) (PG) Cast: Shahrukh Khan, Deepika Padukone 3:30, 6:30pm; CP No:692 Phata Poster Nikla Hero (Action/ Comedy) (12+) 9:00, 11:45pm; CP No:849

Percy Jackson 2 : Sea of Monsters (3D) (Adventure/Fantasy) (PG) Cast: Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario 2:15, 4:15pm; CP No: 804 Prisoners (Drama) (12+) Cast: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal 6:15pm; CP No:829 The Family (Action/Crime) (12+) Cast: Robert De Niro, Michelle Pﬁeffer, Tommy Lee Jones 9:30, 11:45pm; CP No: 824 Planes (3D) (Animation/Comedy/ Adventure) (PG) Cast: Carlos Alazraqui, Dane Cook 2:00, 4:00pm; CP No:810 Mosawer Qateel (Thriller) (15+) Cast: Eyad Nassar, Dorra, Horreya Farghaly 6:00pm; CP No:833 Getaway (Action/Crime) (12+) Cast: Ethan Hawke, Selena Gomez 8:00pm; CP No:798 Aftershock (Horror/Thriller) (18+) Cast: Eli Roth, Ariel Levy, Nicolas Martinez 10:00, 11:45pm; CP No:843 Ya Ya (Tamil) (Romance/Comedy) (PG) Cast: Shiva, Santhanam, Sandhya 3:30, 10:30pm; CP No:850 Phata Poster Nikla Hero (Action/ Comedy) (12+) Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Ileana D’cruz, Padmini Kolhapure 6:15, 9:00pm; CP No:846 In Their Skin (Horror/Thriller) (12+) Cast: Selma Blair, Joshua Close 11:45pm; CP No:836 The Colony (Action/Thriller) (15+)

Cast: Laurence Fishburne, Bill Paxton, Kevin Zegers 3:30, 5:30pm; CP No:794 Pullipullikalum Attinkuttiyum (Malyalam) (Comedy) (PG) Cast: Kunchako Bhoban, Namitha 7:30pm; CP No:817

The Family (Action/Crime) (12+) Cast: Robert De Niro, Michelle Pﬁeffer, Tommy Lee Jones 3:30, 5:30, 7:30, 11:30pm; CP No:825 In Their Skin (Horror/Thriller) (12+) Cast: Selma Blair, Joshua Close, James D’Arcy 4:00, 6:00, 9:30pm; CP No:837 Planes (3D) (Animation/Comedy/ Adventure) (PG) Cast: Carlos Alazraqui, Dane Cook 3:30, 5:30pm; CP No:811 Percy Jackson 2 : Sea of Monsters (Adventure/Fantasy) (PG) Cast: Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario 7:30pm; CP No:805 Getaway (Action/Crime) (12+) Cast: Ethan Hawke, Selena Gomez, Jon Voight 9:30, 11:30pm; CP No:799 Phata Poster Nikla Hero (Action/ Comedy) (12+) Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Ileana D’cruz, 8:00, 11:00pm; CP No:847

The Family (Action/Crime) (12+) Cast: Robert De Niro, Michelle Pﬁeffer, Tommy Lee Jones 3:15, 5:15, 7:15pm; CP No: 826 Prisoners (Drama) (12+) Cast: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis

9:15, 11:55pm; CP No:830 Planes (3D) (Animation/Adventure) (PG) Cast: Carlos Alazraqui, Dane Cook 4:30pm ; CP No:812 Getaway (Action/ Crime) (12+) Cast: Ethan Hawke, Selena Gomez, Jon Voight 6:30, 8:30pm; CP No:800 Pullipullikalum Attinkuttiyum (Malyalam) (Comedy) (PG) Cast: Kunchako Bhoban, Namitha Pramod, Irshad 10:30pm; CP No:819

Percy Jackson 2 : Sea of Monsters (3D) (Adventure/Fantasy) (PG) Cast: Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, Brandon T. Jackson 12:30, 3:00pm; CP No:807 Mosawer Qateel (Thriller) (15+) Cast: Eyad Nassar, Dorra, Horreya Farghaly 5:00pm ; CP No:834 Prisoners (Drama) (12+) Cast: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal 6:45pm; CP No:831 The Family (Action/Crime) (12+) Cast: Robert De Niro, Michelle Pﬁeffer, Tommy Lee Jones 9:30, 11:45pm; CP No:827 Getaway (Action/Crime) (12+) Cast: Ethan Hawke, Selena Gomez 2:45pm; CP No:801 Planes (3D) (Animation/Adventure) (PG) Cast: Carlos Alazraqui, Dane Cook 4:30pm ; CP No:813 Phata Poster Nikla Hero (Action/ Comedy) (12+) Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Ileana D’cruz, Padmini Kolhapure 6:15, 9:00pm; CP No:848 Aftershock (Horror/Thriller) (18+) Cast: Eli Roth, Ariel Levy, Nicolas Martinez 11:45pm; CP No:844

Prisoners (Crime / Thriller) Cast : Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis 4:00pm & 9:00pm; CP No : 1022 ( 12+ ) The Family (Action / Comedy / Crime) Cast: Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dianna Agron Cast :2:00pm, 7:00pm & 11:55pm CP No : 994 ( 15+ ) In Their Skin (Horror / Thriller) Cast: Selma Blair, Joshua Close 10:00pm & 11:55pm; CP No : 1023 (15+ ) Getaway ( Action / Crime ) Cast: Ethan Hawke, Selena Gomez, Jon Voight 4:00pm & 8:00pm; CP No : 1022 ( 12+ ) The Colony (Action / Sci-Fi / Thriller) Cast: Kevin Zegers, Laurence Fishburne, Bill Paxton 6:00pm; CP No:1023 ( 15+ ) The Conjuring (Horror / Thriller) Cast: Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga 2:00pm; CP No : 1023 ( 15+ )

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

STARS CINEMA Film information 24791641 / 24786776 Ya Ya (Tamil) Cast: Shiva, Shantanam, Sandhya 6:30pm (Cinema Main) 3:45 & 9:45pm (Cinema 2) Pullipullikalum Attinkuttiyum(2D) (Mal) (Comedy/Romance) Cast: Kunchako Boban, Namitha Pramod, Suraj and Joju 3:30 & 9:30pm (Cinema Main) 6:45pm (Cinema 2) Thoofan (2D)(Telugu) (Action/Romance) Cast: Ram Charan, Priyanka Chopra and Prakash Raj 3:45 & 6:45pm (Cinema 3) Neelaksham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi (Mal) (Comedy/Romance) Cast: Dulqar Salman, Sunny Wayne 9:45pm (Cinema 3) Varutha Padatha Valibar Sangam (2D) (Tamil) Cast: Karthikeyan, Sri Divya and Sathya Raj 3:45, 6:45 & 9:45 (Cinema 4)

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

T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 3

OMAN HERON TOWER

R I S K FA C T O R

Omani, Saudi investors in a row over London skyscraper

SQU research team discovers microbes in dried anchovies Times News Service MUSCAT: A group of researchers based in SQU and Monash University, Malaysian campus, who investigated the safety of traditional dried anchovies by characterising their microbial flora in a study published by African Journal of Microbiology Research in July 2013, found high levels of microbial contamination. Anchovies, small coastal pelagic fishes, found in most marine environments almost all through the year, are used in many traditional fish products such as salted, pickled, smoked and marinated anchovies. Unhygienic handling In Oman, anchovies are caught by trawling net, generally handled under unhygienic conditions, traditionally dried under the sun for FLEECING PEOPLE

Two expats held for fraud STAFF REPORTER

MUSCAT: The Crime Combat Department at the DirectorateGeneral of Inquiries and Criminal Investigation arrested two African nationals in a case of fraud in Muscat. The two were arrested and papers, seals, stamps, inks and a bunch of photographs used to allure people and trap them, were recovered from their possession. The defendants tried to defraud a number of citizens and residents by making them believe that they can convert paper packets into real money using a special technique. The defendants were referred to the public prosecution for questioning.

three to ﬁve days, packed in sacks and stored at an ambient temperature for a few weeks before consumption. The properties of dried anchovies such as their water content and microbial load vary due to ﬂuctuation in processing conditions which could affect the quality and safety of the product. Anchovies are associated with scombroid-poisoning due to biogenic amine contents such as histamine, putrescine and cadaverine. In the Arabian Gulf, including the Sultanate, dried anchovies are consumed without any heat treatment which could introduce a risk factor. The research team, led by Dr Ismail Al Bulushi, assistant professor at the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the College of Agricultural and

STAFF REPORTER

Traditional dried anchovies.

Marine Sciences at the SQU and co-investigators Prof. Nejib Guizani and Prof. Gary Dykes, found that traditional drying and ambient storage controlled water content and bacterial growth in dried anchovies over a threemonth period. They also observed high levels of contamination with microbes such as Acinetobacter Iwoffii, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacter cloacae which usually originate from human and nonhuman sources during catching, sun drying and handling after processing.

MUSCAT: One of the tallest buildings in the City of London, partially owned by investors in Oman and Saudi Arabia, is reportedly close to being put up for sale amid a dispute among the owners, according to media reports reaching here. The news reports, which quoted a Sky News report, yesterday said bankers to the 46-storey Heron Tower on Bishopsgate are considering calling in receivers as a consequence of the row. The tower’s three investors are led by Heron International, the developer headed by Gerald Ronson, a property entrepreneur while

Sky News said the owners are in dispute over the management of the building and the circumstances in which they can realise value from their investments

other shareholders are the State General Reserve of Oman and certain unidentiﬁed members of the Saudi royal family. Sky News said the three are reportedly in dispute over the management of the building as well as the circumstances in which they

can realise value from their investments. It added that Heron Tower has rented out just 60 per cent of its available space since opening in March 2011. When fully let, it is expected to command a total annual rent in excess of £25m, according to earlier reports.

T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 3

REGION E G Y P T PA R T I A L LY R E O P E N S R A FA H C R O S S I N G

Thousands still stranded in Gaza GAZA: Egypt partially reopened its border crossing with the Gaza Strip yesterday, a week after it was closed in response to a deadly attack on an Egyptian military headquarters near the frontier. Witnesses said two buses took 100 passengers into Egypt through the Rafah crossing, the main window to the world for the Gaza Strip’s 1.7 million Palestinians. Hundreds of other people waited outside the gates for a chance to enter Egypt. Officials of the Palestinian Authority said Cairo agreed to open the crossing for four hours yesterday and today at Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s request to address the humanitarian needs of patients seeking treatment in Egypt and of students studying there. Since former Egyptian president Mohamed Mursi’s removal, Cairo has shut Rafah three times. Thousands of Palestinians have been stranded in the Gaza Strip for weeks. When Rafah has been open,

Egypt has limited the number of passengers allowed through each day to 300 compared with 1,200 before Mursi was removed. Egyptian authorities last shut Rafah a week ago after assailants crashed two explosive-laden cars into a security building adjacent to the border zone, killing six Egyptian soldiers. The lawless Sinai Peninsula has seen frequent battles between the Egyptian military and gunmen. Accusation Egyptian officials have accused Hamas of aiding the Muslim Brotherhood in Sinai - an allegation the Palestinian group denies and say restrictions at Rafah were linked to the security situation in the peninsula. In addition to the clampdown at Rafah, Egypt has been waging a campaign to destroy the network of tunnels that delivered goods to the Gaza Strip, which is partially blockaded by Israel. — Agencies

War wreaks havoc on Syria’s health sector Shortages and astronomical prices of drugs create ‘a very critical situation’

DAMASCUS: Not only is Syrian father Motaz struggling to put food on the table, he must also pay astronomical prices to import insulin for his diabetic son because of drug shortages in the war-torn country. Drug production in Syria has plunged ever since an uprising broke out against President Bashar Al Assad 30 months ago and degenerated into civil war. “I must count every penny because my son’s treatment takes up a big portion of my salary,” the 46-year-old Motaz said. His three children no longer enjoy any day trips because “the priority now is to treat the 12-yearold boy”, he said. The shortage caused by the raging war has created “a very critical situation” in Syria, said the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Elisabeth Hoff. “Pharmaceutical factories only cover 20 to 30 per cent of the needs, though they used to cover 90 per cent” before the conflict, she said. Hoff explained that most factories are located in the central city of Homs, Aleppo in the north and in the outskirts of Damascus. The three areas have seen some of the worst fighting and destruction in the conflict. Eighteen of 73 factories have closed down because of damage, transport difficulties and a halt in raw material imports. The WHO warned in March that drug production had fallen because of restrictions on imports, fluctuations in the exchange rate and spiralling production costs. Syria’s pharmaceutical companies suffer import difficulties because of Western restrictions on financial transactions. Demand Hoff complained, saying “vital materials such as medicines must not be placed under such restrictions”. Chamber of Industry director Fares Shehabi said factories suffering shortages “are forced to import their raw materials at parallel exchange rates”. The Syrian pound has lost much of its value during the course of

A REAL CONCERN: Customers queue up to buy medicines at a pharmacy in Damascus. Drug produc-

tion in Syria has come to a near total halt ever since the war broke out 30 months ago. The war has also caused drug shortages of locally-produced medicines and medicines from abroad are now being smuggled in at ﬁve times the price, a government newspaper said. – AFP

Opposition to military action BRUSSELS: A majority of Europeans and Americans strongly oppose their countries intervening militarily in Syria’s 30-month-old civil war, according to a transatlantic poll published yesterday. The poll found 62 per cent of Americans and 72 per cent of Europeans believed their countries should avoid military intervention in Syria’s civil war, which has killed more than 100,000 people. Only 30 per cent of Americans and 22 per cent of Europeans felt their coun-

the conﬂict, and there is a vast gap between the official exchange rate and the black market rate that factories are forced to use when importing goods. A government newspaper warned recently of “a real catastrophe”, as locally produced medicines are in short supply and “foreign-produced medicines are smuggled in at ﬁve times the price”. Yet Prime Minister Wael Al Halqi insisted in a televised statement on Tuesday that “Syria’s drug security is stable”. “All medicines are available, barring some... which will be imported from friendly countries, mainly Iran, Russia, China, Pa-

tries should intervene in Syria. Stay out In Turkey, which borders Syria, 72 per cent said their country should stay out, while 21 per cent favoured intervention. Countries surveyed were France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Britain, the United States and Turkey. About 1,000 people were polled in each country between June 3 and July 2. — Reuters

kistan, the BRICS countries and Cuba,” Halqi added. But the Central Bank has halted all transfers at the official exchange rate, forcing factories to stop producing several drugs because of the higher costs. Serious effect “The crisis is having a very serious effect on the pharmaceutical industry,” said health ministry lab director Habib Abbud. He said just “10 factories could cover Syria’s needs” if “they can import raw materials without restrictions”. Abbud described those who have continued to produce medicines as “heroes,” adding that the

ministry provides people who have health insurance with free drugs at hospitals. But others struggle to find medicines, a real concern Hoff said, particularly for those wounded in the fighting. Umm Maher, 75, spoke to a friend in Europe to try to obtain a medicine she needs for her hypertension. She complained the drugs will cost her “10 times more” than they would have if she could have purchased them locally. Umm Maher refuses to buy smuggled drugs, even though they are cheaper, because she fears they could be expired, or contain different ingredients than advertised. Diabetics complain that their insulin is brought into the country without the necessary refrigeration. Hoff says the priority now is to prevent epidemics by taking steps against communicable diseases. To help ease the shortage, the government has cancelled pharmaceutical exclusivity rights, so any company can produce any medication. Some factories have stepped up production of drugs formerly made by companies that have been affected by the war, in order to make up for shortfalls, said Basel Al Jundi, production manager at the Ibn Zaher factory. But this has had a “counter-effect by raising the cost of imported materials,” causing companies to lose profits, Jundi said. Factories are committed to continue production, “but the problem... is that they are funding themselves from profits. While they can handle the burden to an extent, the risk of bankruptcy is there”, he added. — AFP

YEMEN

Reconciliation talks stumble SANAA: Reconciliation talks in Yemen have stumbled over the future form of the state, with ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh’s party rejecting a northsouth federation, delegates and officials say. A special committee formed equally of northern and southern representatives was this week close to signing a roadmap to solve the issue of the formerly independent south Yemen. Put off But the signing of such an accord has been put off as the two representatives of Saleh’s General People’s Congress walked out and the GPC suspended its participation, rejecting any bid to “harm the unity of the homeland”.

“The main problem is related to the form of the state: should it be formed of two regions, or several,” said Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, secretary general of the national dialogue. The progress in the dialogue has not been smooth, and appears likely to miss the new deadline for committees to submit their recommendations. The north-south committee has “stopped work because the representatives of the GPC have suspended their participation,” said Mubarak, pointing out that the GPC has made its position clear on the outcome of the committee’s work. He said the problem goes beyond differences over the number of regions in the future federa-

tion, to a struggle between forces wanting to create a new political system and others vying to maintain the status quo. “On the surface, the problem is about the number of regions, but at its core is a struggle between forces of the past wanting to preserve their interests, and other forces wanting to create a new political system,” he said. Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Al Kurbi, himself a GPC member, said the party was preparing a counter proposal that suggests a federation of several regions. “The GPC sees unity as a historic matter that could not be abandoned,” Kurbi said, adding that the GPC will present its proposal at the next meeting of the north-south committee. — AFP

T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 3

INDIA W O R L D H E R I TA G E S I T E

Humayun’s Tomb restored to past glory NEW DELHI: Favouring innovative ways to preserve India’s rich heritage, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday here said this country has one of the richest “repositories” of the past and it is critical to ﬁnd practical and innovative ways to preserve and maintain this. “India has one of the richest repositories of heritage anywhere in the world and it is critical that we ﬁnd practical and innovative ways to preserve and maintain this heritage,” he said while inaugurating the refurbished Humayun’s tomb. The 16th century tomb complex, one of the biggest tourists draws in Delhi is a World Heritage Site and has been restored to its glory after six years of painstaking work. Singh said there was a need for S TAT E M E N T

‘Pakistan Taleban killed author’ NEW DELHI: The Pakistan Taleban is to blame for the killing of Indian author Sushmita Banerjee in Afghanistan, the government said yesterday. The external affairs ministry said a probe by the authorities of Afghanistan’s Paktika province into the September 5 murder of the author showed that the case was “taking a very disturbing turn”. “Things have evolved in the probe... While it was initially for us very distressing that an Indian woman was killed brutally, we now ﬁnd that it is taking a disturbing turn,” spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said. “The governor of Paktika province has indicated to our ambassador that those who are involved in this, based on arrests made, seemed to be what he described as Pakistan Taleban... The indication is they were from areas beyond Afghanistan’s borders. This is extremely distressing for us.” - IANS

TOURIST ATTRACTION: A view of the Humayun’s Tomb after the

completion of restoration work, in New Delhi, yesterday. – PTI

India to evolve a more holistic understanding of conservation that combines preservation efforts with the social and economic needs of communities that surround these historic monuments.

“Going by what I have seen and heard today, I think we have found a good model in the public-private partnership that has restored this great monument to its earlier glory. “The increase in visitor num-

bers to this World Heritage Site will also translate into greater income through tourism,” he added. Singh said that communities of the Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti now beneﬁt from improved urban infrastructure in health, education, water and sanitation as a byproduct of this initiative. “The Humayun’s tomb project, I believe, has provided 200,000 man-days of employment for master craftsmen,” he said. “I would like to congratulate the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, the ASI and the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust on the success of this endeavour.” It was built in 1565, nine years after the death of Mughal emperor Humayun, close to the Yamuna river which then used to ﬂow through the area. - IANS

T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 3

INDIA C O N D I T I O N S TA B L E

Dilip Kumar still in ICU MUMBAI: Veteran actor Dilip Kumar, who suffered a heart attack, remained yesterday in the intensive care unit of a hospital but he was stable, a family spokesman said. The 90-year-old thespian was hospitalised at the Lilavati Hospital Sunday evening. “He is still under observation. His condition is stable. If things

go well, he may be discharged in three to four days,” Murshid Khan, manager of the actor’s wife Saira Banu, said. Dilip Kumar is one of the pioneers of Indian cinema. He was born Mohammed Yusuf Khan in Peshawar. In over six decades of active career, he worked in some of the best known ﬁlms such as Madhumati, Devdas, Ram Aur Shyam and Karma. - IANS

Muzaffarnagar riots: UP MLAs face arrest among the politicians and community leaders wanted for questioning for allegedly making inﬂammatory speeches during the unrest, Jha said by telephone from Muzaffarnagar. He did not say how many politicians and community leaders were being targeted, but the Press Trust of India, quoting unnamed police officials, put the ﬁgure at 16. Some have already been arrested and charged with inciting violence, according to local media.

The state lawmakers, including those from the ruling Congress party and main opposition BJP, are among 69 people wanted by the police for inciting violence PROTEST: BJP leader Uma Bharti stages a protest with party

MUZAFFARNAGAR: A court in northern India yesterday ordered the arrest of dozens of suspects including politicians and community leaders for inciting violence during recent clashes that left 49 people dead, police said. The state lawmakers, including those from the ruling Congress party and main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), are among 69 people wanted by police over the riots in Uttar Pradesh. “The court in Muzaffarnagar today ordered their arrest after we

MLAs against whom arrest warrants were issued by a court in connection with the Muzaffarnagar riots, at the Vidhan Sabha in Lucknow, yesterday. – PTI

registered cases against 69 people who include leaders from some political parties,” state police spokesman Manoj Jha said. Unrest The unrest, during which mobs burned houses and a mosque forcing hundreds of people to ﬂee, erupted this month in Muzaffarnagar, before spreading to other

villages. Thousands of extra paramilitary personnel were rushed to affected areas of the state, which has a history of communal violence. The latest violence has triggered speculation that parties are seeking to polarise the politically pivotal state along religious lines ahead of general elections due next year. A federal opposition MP was

Allegation Headlines Today television station said a state cabinet minister, Azam Khan, allegedly told police to go slow on controlling the riots. A police officer was caught on secretly recorded video saying they were under instructions from Khan, from the state’s governing Samajwadi Party, the TV station said. Khan denied the allegation, saying he was prepared to face the “harshest of punishment if proven guilty”. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday visited victims of the unrest, who have sought shelter in makeshift camps in Uttar Pradesh, and promised tough action for those responsible. - AFP

BRIEFS

CBI mulls filing FIR on missing Coalgate files NEW DELHI: With the case of missing files into the coal block allocation turning murkier, the CBI is mulling filing FIR on the issue for which officials of the agency and the Coal Ministry are likely to meet soon. The decision to hold a meeting was taken after the coal ministry raised objection over documents which the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) claimed to be with the ministry which denied its existence, official sources said. After the meeting, an FIR is expected to be registered to trace the missing files for which the officials concerned will be questioned, the sources said. Coal Ministry had sent a tranche of documents along with the list of files and records. The preliminary analysis had revealed that not all files sought by the agency were provided by the ministry.

Amritsar-Delhi-Kolkata Corridor to link 20 cities NEW DELHI: The Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) on the Amritsar-Delhi-Kolkata Corridor (ADKIC) has recommended connecting the project with 20 cities in seven states, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said yesterday. The PMO in a statement said the IMG, set up by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, had “recommended that ADKIC should be aligned with the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) and it would pass through 20 cities in the states of Punjab, Haryana, UP, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.” It had also proposed a government budgetary support for the project of Rs5,749 crore phased over 15 years.

Manna Dey hospitalised BANGALORE: Legendary singer Manna Dey is in hospital again due to respiratory and renal problems. “The Hindi playback singer was admitted last week for respiratory and renal problems,” Narayana Hrudayalaya spokesperson Vasuki said. This is the second time since May that Dey has been hospitalised with same problems. - Agencies

DIASPORA PROGRAMME

India largest functional democracy, says Pranab NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee yesterday said India was the largest functional democracy in the world, with its own strength which manifests itself whenever the situation demands. “It is necessary for us to know about our roots and the place from where we originated,” he said, interacting with participants of the 25th “Know India Programme for Diaspora Youth” organised by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. The president said the programme would be an enriching experience for young men and women. The group, which called on the president at Rashtrapati Bhavan, comprised 27 young men and women from eight countries, an official release said. The programme is organised for youth of Indian origin from various countries to make them familiar with the transformation taking place in the country. - IANS

T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 3

PAKISTAN Death mooted for false blasphemy accusation Religious scholars have agreed to put an end to the misuse of blasphemy laws,

In 2011, Punjab governor Salman Taseer and minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti were assassinated for demanding that the blasphemy law be reformed

said scholar Allama Tahir Ashraﬁ

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top religious clerics yesterday suggested amendments to the country’s controversial blasphemy laws, proposing the death penalty for people convicted of making false accusations. Blasphemy is an extremely sen-

sitive issue in Pakistan, where 97 per cent of the population is Muslim, and insulting the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) can be punished by death under the country’s penal code. Even unproven allegations can provoke a violent public response, and critics say the law is often used to settle personal scores. The country’s Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) suggested the government should bring in

the death penalty for people convicted of making false accusations of blasphemy. “All the religious scholars agreed to put an end to the misuse of blasphemy laws,” scholar Allama Tahir Mehmood Ashraﬁ said. “Keeping in view the suggestions of human rights activists and civil society members, the Council of Ideology has decided to ﬁx the same penalty for the person who falsely accuses of blas-

LAHORE CATTLE MARKET Men walk with their animals near a cattle market to sell them in Lahore, yesterday. — AF

SHOCKING INCIDENT

After rape bid, woman’s nose chopped LAHORE: The Lahore High Court yesterday took notice of an incident where a woman’s nose was chopped off during a rape attempt in Khanewal district. The notice was taken on a report published in a section of the press. The court has directed District and Sessions Judge Khanewal to probe the matter. According to details, the woman was working in the ﬁelds of local landlord Rana Israr with her daughter. Israr took the woman to his farmhouse by force and attempted to molest her. He chopped off her nose and ﬂed. — Express Tribune

phemy as the accused,” he added. Ashrafi said the proposed amendment would ensure that “nobody dares to use religion to settle personal scores”. “The amendment will also silence critics of the blasphemy laws,” he added. In 2011, Punjab governor Salman Taseer and minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti were assassinated for demanding that the blasphemy law be reformed. Asia Bibi, a Christian mother of five, remains in prison after being sentenced to death in November 2010 after another women claimed she had made derogatory remarks. The council also reversed an earlier decision about the use of DNA as evidence in rape cases, which it had refused to accept. “The council has now left the matter of DNA evidence for the courts,” Ashrafi said. — AFP

PUNJAB UNIVERSITY

Hostels sanctuaries of militants: Official LAHORE: Islami Jamiat Talba, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, is harbouring militants in the Punjab University hostels, Dr Mujahid Kamran, the university’s vice chancellor, said yesterday. “Illegal occupants were living in Punjab University hostels,” Dr Kamran said, accepting his failure to keep the hostels free of elements involved in militant activities. Recently, intelligence agencies have arrested a suspect believed to be an associate of Al Qaeda from the Punjab University hostel. Why no action? He did not answer media queries why the university administration had not taken action against the illegal occupants, but said a police operation could be launched to dislodge such elements from the hostels. However, Jamiat has refuted the claim. IJT Punjab southern nazim Rai Haq Nawaz and IJT nazim of PU Abdul Muqeet accused the VC

Recently, intelligence agencies have arrested a suspect believed to be an associate of Al Qaeda from the Punjab University hostel of “trying to defame Jamiat” to hide his own inefficiency. “IJT has no connection with any banned organisation. The university administration is shifting the blame on the IJT to save its own skin,” Haq Nawaz said. “The VC has hired a personal militia for his protection but there are no guards for the hostels,” Muqeet said. The administration and hostel wardens give refuge to illegal residents at the hostels and then use the name of IJT, the office bearers said. — Exclusive, in arrangement with Express Tribune

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T I M E S O F O M AN

T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 3

COMMEN ARY ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company

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.

Sell-off of Royal Mail is fraught with political risk

fter more than two decades and several abortive attempts, the privatisation of the British Royal Mail is going ahead at last. Margaret Thatcher baulked at the prospect; Michael Heseltine and, after him, Peter Mandelson had their ambitions scuppered by the chariness of MPs. Vince Cable formally notified the Stock Exchange of the Government’s intentions to float the company within weeks. While not without risks, the plan has much to recommend it. Lumbering, heavily unionised Royal Mail has suffered from both chronic under-investment and deep-rooted inflexibility as the world has radically changed around it. The result has been missed opportunities galore as rivals stole the march on more lucrative parcel-delivery markets even as email decimated the traditional letters business. Thanks to Moya Greene, who took over in 2010, the group has clawed its way back into the black. The Government’s takeover of its £5bn pension deficit also helped. Now, with its finances back in order, the state will sell about 40 per cent of the organisation, with a further 10 per cent handed to its 150,000 employees. Barring unforeseen disasters, the first dividends, totalling £133m, will be paid in July. Perhaps predictably, the scheme has some vociferous opponents. Indeed, the Communications Workers Union, whose members work for Royal Mail, is holding a strike ballot early next month to protest against potential changes in pay and conditions. It is too late. If the industrial action goes ahead, it may be the first time that a company has listed on the Stock Exchange while its workers were on strike. But even such drastic action will not be enough to turn the tide. Nor should the benefits of privatisation be underplayed. A fleeter-footed business, no longer restricted by government investment rules and with access to private capital, is better placed to undertake the sweeping modernisation that the organisation still needs to go through if it is to compete successfully. There are risks, though. The most immediate is that the shares are sold too cheaply, repeating the mistakes of previous sales and leaving taxpayers cheated (and resentful). Over the longer term, the challenge will be a regulatory one. Royal Mail will continue to be bound by the universal service obligation mandating six-day, nationwide postal delivery; but what is far from clear is how so costly a service will be funded. The hope is that booming business elsewhere — courtesy of online shopping — will enable cross-subsidy. But sceptics warn of unaffordable hikes in stamp prices or even state bailouts. Thatcher’s unwillingness to sell off Royal Mail was not only a sentimental attachment to tradition. It also sprang from a hard-headed assessment of the political pitfalls of tampering with a venerable national institution. - The Independent

STOPPING A SCOURGE

Let us unite in our fight against rape Special to Times of Oman

WILLIAM HAGUE/ANGELINA JOLIE

Courage and coercion

peaking as we would expect from an army chief, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has said the military would not allow terrorists to ‘coerce’ the government or people into talks, and that the army had the capability of taking the war to them. General Kayani’s strong words reﬂect public outrage and national revulsion over Taleban attacks that left at least eight security personnel dead within the past 48 hours. The most senior ofﬁcer among them was the General-Officer-Commanding Swat, Major General Sanaullah Niazi, whose vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device in Upper Dir. A lieutenant colonel was also killed in the attack. The army chief stressed the armed services had the ‘ability and will’ to take the battle to the terrorists and would not allow these elements to take advantage of a quest for peace. Certainly, this is what seems to be happening now. Following the call by an All Parties Conference to pursue a course of dialogue to solve security issues, the Tehreek-e-Taleban Pakistan has put out a set of demands which include a troop withdrawal from tribal areas and the release of all Taleban prisoners. At the same time they seem to be bent on continuing their war against the state. Dealing with a force that speaks from a perceived position of strength by accepting any of its terms or even hinting this could happen would be a disaster; quite possibly a fatal one. No state can afford to allow itself to be weakened in this fashion. General Kayani, whose primary role, of course, is to defend the nation, has done well to speak out forcefully. His words act as a reminder of the act of folly that political players may have been moving towards. Any talks with terrorists must take place from a powerful position; the government must not appear to be cowering before them — and the army chief’s expression of a full readiness to take them on is reassuring given the developments of the past few days and the farcical terms put down by the TTP for talks, which more and more people of rationality believe it would be foolish to attempt to pursue, at least, at the present point in time. - The Express Tribune

A good and readable presentation of anti logic This refers to the article, Of human spirit and anti logic (September 18). The piece offered us an excellent reading. The author has commendably penned the article in simple, hilarious and yet thought provoking manner. The human psychology, namely ‘antilogic’ with the concept of reverse psychology has been precisely presented in a very debonair manner. The article is a must read and a good food for thought for one and all! G.V.K. Durga Ravi Muscat

West too stands culpable of creating many Malalas This refers to the Commentary page article, West is using

Malala to wash its own barbarity (September 18). I agree with the author’s observations on how the West has “hijacked” the little girl, Malala Yousafzai. It also cannot be ignored that the West has created many more Malalas in Iraq and Afghanistan where, on the pretext of ﬁghting terrorism, the United States, Britain, France and others have ruined the aspirations of many young girls and boys who wanted education. Ramachandran Nair Ruwi

Sexual violence has been used as a weapon of war in nearly every major conflict in our lifetimes, from Bosnia to Rwanda. This is rape used as a deliberate military tactic, to achieve political objectives. Rape is used because it is easily concealed and strikes at the most vulnerable people

ach day accounts of horrific crimes in Syria reach the outside world. Now the UN has confirmed that rape is being used to terrorise and punish women, men and children, during house searches and interrogations, at checkpoints, and in detention centres and prisons across the country. The latest harrowing UN Commission of Inquiry report describes a mother being raped and forced to cook and clean for her captors, under the threat of the murder of her children. It tells the story of a university student who was raped because her brother was a wanted by the Government. These accounts are the tip of the iceberg. Fear, shame and the sheer struggle for survival mean that many survivors do not dare to come forward. Sexual violence has been used as a weapon of war in nearly every major conflict in our lifetimes, from Bosnia to Rwanda. This is rape used as a deliberate military tactic, to achieve political objectives: to humiliate political opponents, to drive out or subjugate a different ethnic grouping, or to terrorise a community into submission. In some conflicts it is even used to infect women with HIV, or to injure them so badly that they are unable to bear children. Rape is used because it is easily concealed and strikes at the most vulnerable people. When we visited the Democratic Republic of Congo we met a mother whose 5 year-old daughter had been violated. That girl is too young to make her voice heard, but her suffering and that of millions of other victims around the world should be a call to action. The world has devised treaties to outlaw the global use of cluster munitions and landmines or to drive down the trade in illegal weapons. All of these agreements were once considered impossible. They all began with moral outrage and led to global action. It is time to do the same against warzone rape and sexual violence. The crux of the problem is an ingrained culture of impunity, where for tens of thousands of rapes in any one country there have only been a handful of prosecutions. The men raping prisoners in a detention centre in Syria think that they will get away with it because that is what history suggests. Another acute factor is the lack of long-term support for survivors, who face a lifetime of rejection, illness and trauma on top of their suffering at the hands of their abusers. We have come together to campaign on this issue because we have both seen the way sexual violence devastates the lives of survivors and their families. We want to raise awareness of the urgent need for action. And we are calling for governments of the world to unite to eradicate warzone rape as a vital priority. We started our initiative last year, and are grateful

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

for the way many countries have responded to it. In April in London the G8, including our own two countries, made a historic commitment to address this issue. In June United the Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a Resolution bolstering the UN’s capabilities. 45 members of the United Nations showed their support by co-sponsoring the Resolution – a record in recent history. Next week is the UN General Assembly in New York, the largest gathering of world leaders in any one year. During it, on September 24th, a new ‘Declaration of commitment to end sexual violence in conflict’ will be presented. It has been drawn up with the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence, and a dozen countries from the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia whose leaders have courageously agreed to champion this cause with us. The Declaration will give every country in the world an opportunity to show where it stands on this issue. The countries endorsing it will agree, for the first time, that serious sexual violence in conflict constitutes grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions and their first Protocol. This will mean that suspects can be apprehended wherever they are in the world. It contains a pledge not to allow amnesties for sexual violence in peace agreements, so that these crimes can no longer be swept under the carpet and military leaders learn that there will be accountability. The Declaration promises a new International Protocol by the middle of 2014: to help ensure that evidence produced can stand up in court and more survivors can see justice, and to place the safety and dignity of victims at the heart of investigations into rape and other sexual crimes in conflict zones. It includes provisions on women’s participation, the protection refugees, and training for national armed forces and police. And its signatories will promise to put protection from sexual violence at the forefront of all their conflict and humanitarian work, and to help strengthen the capacity of countries most at risk of this violence. We believe these are all steps that every member of the international community should be able to support. So we hope that a majority of the world’s governments will sign up to this pact, and that together we can work to put these commitments into practice. If we can, it could mark a turning point in international attitudes to rape and sexual violence, and finally, the beginning of an end to impunity. There are many other injustices which the world must confront. But the rape and abuse of hundreds of thousands of women, men and children can no longer be tolerated. We hope people around the world will join us to take this stand. William Hague is the British Foreign Secretary and Angelina Jolie is a renowned actress and UNHCR Special Envoy.

One should realise that Modi is no man’s fool to rule a country on communal basis. He stresses on inclusive economic development through which all segments of the society would beneﬁt. I am wondering as to why can’t the author think of something new instead of copying what the Congress and the Indian media have been parroting on Modi almost every day. Krishnan R Muscat

Rival beauty pageant will surely be more ethical There will be no threat if Modi becomes Indian PM This refers to the article, BJP banks on Modi’s spirit (September 18). The author did not offer us anything new but the same old clichéd criticism against Modi.

The evil of the world is made possible by nothing but the sanction you give it AYN RAND

This refers to the news, Contest to rival Miss World unveiled (September 15). I congratulate the organisers of the Muslimah World contest, which is expected to counter the exhibitionism and indecent representation of women

in Miss World and Miss Universe beauty pageants. It is reasonable to conduct any competition as per the culture of the land. On the other hand, Miss World and Miss Universe beauty pageants have been exploiting women. The idea of assessing the beauty of women without exposing them is a welcome step. Soman Sanku Rustaq

Radio has a far better future than TV, Internet Television is certainly the most dynamic of all news outlets in the world today. Yet, I believe radio is the medium of news and information of future. It will soon outdate the Internet. B. R. Rao Sohar

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)

T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 3

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WORLD Nigerian woman wins Muslimah World Contest The 20 ﬁnalists were judged on how well they recited Quranic verses and their views on Islam in the modern world with Obabiyi Aishah Ajibola being adjudged as winner CROWNING GLORY: Obabiyi Aishah Ajibola is crowned Indone-

sian Muslimah 2012 during the Muslimah World competition in Jakarta, yesterday. — AFP

JAKARTA: A Nigerian woman tearfully prayed and recited Quranic verses as she won a beauty pageant exclusively for Muslim women in the Indonesian capital yesterday, a riposte to the Miss World Contest that has sparked hardliners’ anger. The 20 ﬁnalists, who were all required to wear headscarves, put on a glittering show for the ﬁnal of Muslimah World, strolling up and down a catwalk in elaborately embroidered dresses and stilettos. But the contestants from six countries were covered from head to foot, and as well as beauty they were judged on how well they recited Quranic verses and their views on Islam in the modern world. After a show in front of an audience of mainly religious scholars and devout Muslims, a panel of judges picked Obabiyi Aishah Ajibola from Nigeria as the winner. While the event in a Jakarta shopping mall paled in compari-

son to Miss World on the resort island of Bali, in which scores of contestants are competing, Ajibola was nevertheless overwhelmed. Upon hearing her name, the 21-year-old knelt down and prayed, then wept as she recited a Quranic verse. Trip to Makkah She said it was “thanks to Almighty Allah” that she had won the contest. She received 25 million rupiah ($2,200) and trips to the holy city of Makkah, and India as prizes. Ajibola said before the ﬁnal that the event “was not really about competition”. “We’re just trying to show the world that Islam is beautiful,” she said. Organisers said the pageant challenged the idea of beauty put forward by the British-run Miss World pageant, and also showed that opposition to the event could be expressed non-violently.

Eka Shanti, who founded the pageant three years ago after losing her job as a TV news anchor for refusing to remove her headscarf, bills the contest as “Islam’s answer to Miss World”. ‘Alternative role models’ “This year we deliberately held our event just before the Miss World ﬁnal to show that there are alternative role models for Muslim women,” she said. “But it’s about more than Miss World. Muslim women are increasingly working in the entertainment industry in a sexually explicit way, and they become role models, which is a concern.” Hosted by Dewi Sandra, an Indonesian actress and pop star who recently hung up her racy dresses for a headscarf, the pageant featured both Muslim and pop music performances, including one about modesty. — AFP

CANADA

CYGNUS CARGO SHIP

Five killed as bus crashes into train TORONTO: A double-decker bus crashed into a passenger train at a crossing south of Canada’s capital yesterday, killing at least five people, an official said. Ottawa fire department spokesman Marc Messier told broadcaster CTV that at least five bus passengers died and up to six others were injured. “We had bodies and debris pretty much everywhere at the impact site,” CTV quoted Messier as saying. Ottawa Police said it was investigating the collision. The Via Rail company operating the affected train on the Ot-

tawa-to-Toronto line — on which traffic has been suspended — reported no fatalities. It was on its way from Montreal. Morning rush hour The OC Transpo bus was on its way downtown during the morning rush hour when the accident happened shortly before 8:48 am local time (1248 GMT). It happened in the Barrhaven, about 20 kilometres south of Ottawa, shortly before it was due to stop at a nearby station. The injured were being transported to area hospitals, some of them by helicopter. — AFP

Spacecraft on maiden flight NEW YORK: Orbital Sciences Corp launched the first flight of its unmanned Cygnus cargo ship yesterday to the International Space Station, as Nasa forges ahead with its plan to privatise US space missions. The Cygnus capsule, hitched to Orbital Science’s Antares rocket, blasted off at 10:58 am (1458 GMT) from Nasa’s Wallops Flight Facility off Virginia’s eastern coast, for a Sunday rendezvous with the ISS. Cygnus separated from the rocket’s second stage about 10 minutes after blast-off to reach Earth’s orbit, marking the success of the launch. It later deployed both of its solar arrays, which will supply power to the spacecraft.— AFP

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T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 3

WORLD CHINESE WOMAN

Alive after 15 days in well BEIJING: A Chinese woman was found alive after being trapped in an abandoned well for 15 days, eating corn-cobs and drinking rainwater, local media reported yesterday. Su Qixiu, 38, was found at the bottom of the well in a rural part of central China’s Henan province, the Dahe Daily said. The well, hidden from view

by corn plants, is only about one metre in diameter and four metres deep, but its smooth walls made climbing out difficult, the paper said. ‘Scarily skinny’ Su was “scarily skinny” when found, the report cited one of the ﬁreﬁghters who rescued her as saying. — AFP

Abbott sworn in as new Australian PM Right after taking over as the new premier, Tony ordered the scrapping of the nation’s carbon tax and the halting of asylum-seeker boats START OF AN ERA: Australia’s Prime Minister Tony Abbott, left, is

CANBERRA: Tony Abbott was sworn in as Australia’s new prime minister yesterday and immediately ordered the scrapping of the nation’s carbon tax and the halting of asylum-seeker boats. The 55-year-old conservative launched straight into work with a cabinet meeting after the ceremony at Government House in Canberra where his Liberal/National government officially brought six years of Labor rule to a close. “Today is not just a ceremonial day, it’s an action day. The Australian people expect us to get straight down to business and that’s exact-

felicitated by Governor-General Quentin Bryce after he was sworn in as the 28th prime minister of Australia during a ceremony in Canberra, yesterday. — AFP

ly what this government will do,” said, Abbott, a political hardman who has worked to soften his macho image in recent months. In presenting his frontbench team to Governor-General Quentin Bryce, he added: “We will be a problem-solving government based on values not ideology.” Abbott was elected on September 7 on a pledge to quickly scrap taxes on corporate pollution and mining proﬁts imposed under La-

bor, as well as introducing a costly paid parental leave scheme and a vow to build new roads across the vast nation. Top of his to-do list is axing the unpopular carbon tax, which charges the country’s biggest polluters for their emissions at a ﬁxed price. His government instead favours a “direct action” plan that includes an emissions reduction fund to pay companies to increase

their energy efficiency, and money for schemes to replenish soil carbon and plant 20 million trees. Abbott, who once said that evidence blaming mankind for climate change was “absolute crap”, said he would immediately instruct officials “to prepare the carbon tax repeal legislation”. Another central plank of his election campaign was stopping asylum-seeker boats. His policy of using the navy to tow them back to Indonesia came into effect yesterday, and could prove to be an early test of his mettle. “It’s so important that we send a message to the people-smugglers that, from today, their business model is coming to an end,” Abbott said. The military tow-back is part of Operation Sovereign Borders, which is widely expected to be led by Deputy Chief of Army Angus Campbell, a former special forces commander, reporting directly to new Immigration Minister Scott Morrison. It includes a proposal to embed Australian police in Indonesia, buy up ﬁshing boats to keep them out of people-smugglers’ hands, and pay locals for intelligence — plans that have received a cool reception in Jakarta. — AFP

PEOPLE MAGAZINE LIST

Actress Kerry Washington named best dressed woman NEW YORK: Actress Kerry Washington, who scored an Emmy nomination for her role in the ABC television drama Scandal is the “World’s Best Dressed Woman,” People magazine said yesterday. Washington, 36, headed a list of style icons that included Academy Award-winner Jennifer Lawrence, singer-songwriter Solange Knowles and actresses Jenna Dewan-Tatum and Kate Bosworth. “I don’t wear a lot of pants,” Washington said in a statement announcing the honour. “When I go somewhere I want to know I’m going to be comfortable and I’m dressed for the event.” People magazine Executive Editor Elizabeth Sporkin praised Washington for her fashion sense. ‘Lady-like fashion’ “There has been a trend this year in lady-like fashion and I think she is almost single-handedly responsible for it,” Sporkin said in an interview. Although Washington nabbed the best dressed title, Lawrence, the winner of this year’s best actress Oscar for Silver Linings Playbook was cited as having the best high fashion style, and actress Jessica Chastain, the star of 2012’s Zero Dark Thirty had the best red carpet style, according to People.

Solange Knowles got top marks for style risk-taking and conﬁdence. Pushing the envelope “She really does push the envelope,” said Sporkin. “No one else would even think of putting together the looks she wears. She always pulls it off.” Avatar actress Zoe Saldana had the best denim style and actress Lily Collins was named the best for up-and-coming style. The celebrity magazine compiled the list after getting input from its editors, its 42 million readers and fashion directors and bloggers. Gwyneth Paltrow Along with selecting the best dressed women, the magazine also looked back at fashion moments of the year, citing actress Sarah Jessica Parker’s haute punk mohawk headdress by designer Philip Treacy at the Met Ball in New York and ﬁrst lady Michelle Obama’s bangs, which she has recently grown out. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow was named best dressed last year. The full list can be seen online at www.people.com/bestdressed and a special double issue of the magazine with the best and worst dressed of 2013 will be on newsstands tomorrow. — Reuters

HONOUR: Kerry Washington

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM THU RS DAY, S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 3

SECTION

SPOR YOUR GAME

Tendulkar’s future focus of speculation Tendulkar has appeared in 198 Tests, the most by any cricketer, notching up a mind-boggling 51 hundreds in the five-day format

The 40-year-old champion batsman was ‘reportedly’ told by chief selector Sandeep Patil that after the 200th Test his place in the team would depend on the runs that he scores

NEW DELHI: Just two matches shy of playing his 200th Test, Sachin Tendulkar’s future yesterday became a subject of intense speculation after a media report claimed that he has been told to consider his career plans after the milestone game, forcing the BCCI to issue a denial. The 40-year-old champion batsman was reportedly told by chief selector Sandeep Patil that after the 200th Test, which would be completed during the two-match series against the West Indies in November, his place in the team would depend on the runs that he scores. However, Patil himself refuted it, saying that he had not met Tendulkar for 10 months, while the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) was also quick to deny such a development. “There is no truth in the report.

BCCI denies report of Patil telling Tendulkar to retire NEW DELHI: The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) yesterday denied reports that chief selector Sandeep Patil has told veteran batsman Sachin Tendulkar to consider his future after playing his 200th Test. “There is no truth in the report. We have spoken to both Tendulkar and Patil, no such

We have spoken to both Tendulkar and Patil, no such conversation ever took place. It is for the player to take a call on retirement, and the BCCI has always followed this policy”, senior Board official Rajeev Shukla said.”It’s always a pleasure to meet Sachin, but I have not met him for the last 10 months.

conversation ever took place,” senior Board official Rajeev Shukla said. Sachin is currently gearing up to play in the Champions League T20 League for IPL holders Mumbai Indians with his ﬁrst game scheduled against hosts Rajasthan Royals at Jaipur on September 21. — PTI

I have not called him, neither has he called me. We have not discussed anything, It’s all nonsense,” Patil said. The report, quoting an unnamed selector, had stated that Patil met Tendulkar after the BCCI penciled in an unscheduled tour against the West Indies at home comprising a

two-Test series and a three-game ODI rubber. It also hinted that Patil had told Tendulkar that the selectors will decide the batsman’s future after his much-awaited 200th Test appearance. “We have got a bunch of youngsters and they all have been performing well. No one can question Sachin Tendulkar. What he has done is remarkable but we also have to look at the future. We have several talented players waiting to get one chance to prove themselves,” the selector said, according to the report. Tendulkar has appeared in 198 Tests, the most by any cricketer in the history of the game, notching up a mind-boggling 51 hundreds in the ﬁve-day format of the game. Besides, he has also raked up 49 ODI centuries, a format from which he has already retired, to make it a century of international hundreds. The batting veteran, who has scored close to 16,000 runs in Tests, has had a lean run especially as per his standards over the last couple of years. — PTI

FORD TO STEP DOWN AS SRI LANKA COACH LONDON: Sri Lanka will seek a new coach after South African Graham Ford declined to extend his two-year term beyond January, cricket officials said yesterday. “The national coach has indicated of his unavailability to continue after his contract expires in January 2014,” Sri Lanka Cricket said. Ford, 52, who made known his decision to step down earlier this month, had been requested by the Sri Lankan board to reconsider options.— AFP

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE T20

Doeschate seals second straight victory for Volts MOHALI: Otago Volts enhanced their chances to qualify for the Champions League Twenty20 as Ryan ten Doeschate led the Kiwi side to a convincing sixwicket victory over Kandurata Maroons with his all round performance yesterday. Doeschate (2/9) took two wickets when Volts restricted Maroons to 154 for nine and then smashed a stroke-filled 64-run knock to help his side overhaul the target with 12 balls to spare. The New Zealand side now has two victories from as many matches and they play their final match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday. After the defeat, the doors have virtually been shut on the Maroons of advancing further in the League. They had lost their opening match to Hyderabad side on Tuesday. Maroons owed their total to splendid batting by Upul Tharanga, who scored a 56-ball 76. Other batsmen got start but could not convert those into big knocks. In Otago’s chase, 33-year-old Dutch anchored his side’s innings after they had lost top order batsmen Hamish Rutherford (20), who was in good form today, Brendon McCullum (8) and Neil Broom (25). Doeschate, Otago’s top runscorer in the HRV Cup, came in for Aaron Redmond who failed with the bat in the first match. His knock of 64 came off in just 32 balls and was studded with two boundaries and five sixes. Man-of-the-match Dutch batted freely and hit spinner Kaushal Lokuaruchchi for three

SRH win MOHALI: Skipper Shikar Dhawan (59) hit his second straight half century to help Sunrisers Hyderabad qualify for the main draw of CLT20 yesterday. Chasing 127 for 5 set by Faisalabad Wolves, Sunrisers eased past the total in 17.3 overs. Earlier Faisalabad skipper Misbah-ul Haq op-scored for his side with an unbeaten knock of 56 off 40 balls. He hit a four and ﬁve sixes in the process. Amit Mishra was easily the best bowler for Sunrisers. — PTI

consecutive sixes in the 11th over. James Neesham (32 off 19 balls) gave him good support. Doeschate presihed when Nuwan Kulasekara caught him brilliantly at the boundary off Dilhara Lokuhattie but by that time he had steered Volts closer to the win. Dilhara (3/20) was the most successful bowlers for the Maroons with three wickets. Ian Butler was the most successful bowler for the Kiwi side as he scalped three batsmen including the prized wicket of Tharanga, who handed a catch to Brendon McCullum. — PTI

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T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 3

SPORTS Nurburgring 1000 next challenge for Ahmad

FOOTBALL

Just over a week since claiming his

TRAINING: Young players training at the Samba Fustal Centre at

The aim now is to try and repeat the same at the Nurburgring at the weekend. It’s going to be an incredibly tough race

second outright win of the year in the Avon Tyres British GT Championship at Zandvoort in The Netherlands, the 32-year-old Omani has high hopes of

Ahmad Al Harthy

continuing with his

Sportscar racer

excellent momentum

MUSCAT: Sportscar racer Ahmad Al Harthy is focused on signing-off his maiden campaign in the Blancpain Endurance Series on a high at the world-famous Nurburgring this weekend September 21-22, when the pan-European championship concludes with a six-hour spectacular. Just over a week since claiming his second outright win of the year in the Avon Tyres British GT Championship at Zandvoort in The Netherlands, the 32-year-old Omani has high hopes of continuing with his excellent momentum by battling for Blancpain GTR

Class success in Germany. The ‘Nurburgring 1000’, called thus due to the 1,000-kilometre distance covered in six hours, is another fresh challenge for the ARC Bratislava-NBO Racing Team driver in a season which has exceeded all expectations. Making the switch from sprint racing at the beginning of 2013, having sealed the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship Pro-Am 1 title last year, Ahmad enjoyed an exceptional debut campaign in endurance racing and is now focused on ending the Blancpain season a few days from now with a bang. “I really can’t believe the Blancpain season is almost over already,”

said the National Bank of Oman, Nawras, Oman Ministry of Tourism and Oman Ministry of Sports Affairs-backed driver, adding, Beginning the Blancpain season back in April at Monza in Italy with eighth slot in the GTR Class, by rights Ahmad and team-mate Miro Konôpka should have taken home some deserved podium silverware were it not for some gearbox problems with their Porsche 997 GT3R. Moving on to Silverstone in the UK a month later for the championship’s second three-hour race of the season, the NBO Racing Team took a superb GTR victory after two fantastic stints for Ahmad, sandwiching a

strong one-hour run for Slovakian racer Konôpka. Since then, unfortunately, the team has been hit by issues out of its control — ﬁrstly a driveshaft problem during round three at Paul Ricard in France and then contact from a rival in the Total 24 Hours of Spa, resulting in a bitterly disappointing retirement from the biggest race of the year. Despite missing out on vital points in recent events, the NBO Racing Team is ﬁfth in the GTR Class standings and can still end the campaign inside the top three. In the GTR driver standings, Ahmad and Konôpka are in 10th position.

GOLF

the Bowsher Club. – Supplied picture

Samba Futsal Centre inaugurated MUSCAT: In an event held earlier this week under the patronage of Sheikh Saif Ahmed Al Khalili, Chairman of the Bowsher’s Club and Secretary General of the clubs of Oman, the Samba Futsal Centre inaugurated its ﬁrst school in Oman. As one of the fastest growing sports in the world, Futsal provides a great opportunity for countries seeking to develop sport as a form of social development. By practising Futsal, youngsters in Oman will be able to develop their technical skills not just for the sport itself but also earn other skills speciﬁcally required for football as well. Explaining the different programmes that the centre provides, Paulo Koscina of the Samba Futsal Centre said, “I am very excited to see our dream come true. Our centre caters to all children and youngsters between the ages of 4 and 16 and we offer an array of programmes to match the abilities of the various age

groups.” As Oman Football Association has it as a project to develop the country’s official Futsal league, the Samba Futsal Centre would like to start its team and become a pioneer in Oman. “We aim to develop the first official Futsal team of Oman,” concluded Koscina. During the first season from September to December 2013, the Futsal training sessions are held twice a week, Sunday and Tuesday from 4pm to 7pm, for the children in the Under-13 and Under-16 age groups. As for Sambinha programme targeting groups of children Under-5 and Under-7, there will be five training sessions every Saturday Futsal is the official name chosen by Fifa for this sport. Earlier, many names were being used, such as Futebol de Salao 5-aside and indoor soccer (name still used for a game played in the United States, where they have similar rules but the basic difference is that the ball doesn’t go out along the sides of the pitch).

ASIA CUP U-16 QUALIFIER

Almouj Golf members gear up for the season U-16 national team MUSCAT: Almouj Golf members are getting ready for the new season, where they compete in a series of competitions, in an attempt to stay at the top of their game. In the past one month, five competitions took place at Almouj Golf which offered members the opportunity to brush up on their skills in better ball Stablefords, Matchplays and a PowerPlay challenge. Ahmed Kamel took on the back tees for his entire PowerPlay Challenge round to produce an impressive 43 points. A gross birdie on the Par 4 5thhole contributed significantly to Ahmed’s victory, adding five points for this hole alone, giving a total of 24 points for the front seven holes. Keith Harvey was not

too far behind Ahmed in the PowerPlay stakes — choosing to play all 14 holes from the PowerPlay tee, Keith scored 39 points which included three net eagles on some tough par 4s. Not one to rest on his laurels, Keith was back in action for The Chedi Muscat monthly medal — this month based around the USPGA at Oak Hill. Despite a smallerthan-usual field, no less than five previous monthly medal winners took part in August’s challenge. Despite dropping shots on both the par 5’s on the front 9, Keith’s score of net 38 playing off a handicap of 13 was not to be beaten securing him another summer title after his 36 hole Summer Open win. A newcomer to the fixtures

list, the Yellow Ball Pairs Challenge played in late August was a Stableford with a difference: the player with the yellow ball was entitled to record double Stableford points, until the ball was lost, as no replacements were given. A shotgun start on the seafronting holes meant that the yellow-ball advantage was short lived for many of the pairs playing. Not so for the A-team of Almouj Golf Captain William Welsh and Danny Renihan who nursed their yellow ball around all 18 holes to amass an insurmountable total of 70 points. The pairs’ massive haul included a net eagle with the yellow ball on the challenging par 5 12th hole which gave the pair 8 points on that hole alone. However, the summer

competitions were worth more than just individual pride; the Interclub Summer League, a competition format devised from each Muscat course, pitted club against club in home and away match fixtures. Played in better ball Matchplay format over 9 holes, the fourth fixture was played against Muscat Hills at the Muscat Hills course. Some tough fights were put up by the Almouj Golf pairs in each respective match, with Milind Nadkarni and David Townsend, and Iain Watters and Keith Harvey posting wins for the Almouj Golf team. Despite these wins, the final scores revealed a first for the League – a drawn match at 7 points apiece for Almouj Golf and Muscat Hills.

heads to Bishkek MUSCAT: After the successful Gulf Cup tournament in Qatar where the U-16 national team ﬁnished second after losing in the penalty shots, it will head to Bishkek tomorrow afternoon to participate in the Asia Qualiﬁers games that will lead to the Asia Cup U-16. The Reds will play against the host, in addition to Qatar and Bangladesh in the same group. In order to prepare better, the technical team decided to train in Muscat and play a friendly against Yemen at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex. The National team Coach,

Yaqoub Sabahi, stressed that the same team that came second in the Gulf Cup tournament will participate in the qualifiers. Squad: Goal keepers: Ammar Rushaidi, Abdullah Shabibi, Sultan Rukaidi; Defence: Wadah Saadi, Nasser Amri, Salah Qasmi, Abdullah Hajri, Dakheel Yahmadi, and Loay Hadidi; Midfield: Sultan Khalifa, Omran Hadidi, Faisal Ali Ashour, Naser Naamani, Ali Hinai, ZaherAl Agbari, Bader Al Jabri, Amir Salim; Offence: Wadah Bin Amer, Yazeed Siyabi, Ali Harasi, Salah yehyai; Coach: Yaqoub Sabahi, Hilal Awfi Assistant Coach, Younes Shibli; Team Manager, Shaker Balushi.

HOCKEY FRATERNITY HONOUR SUDHIR Sudhir Keshavji, managing director, Naranjee Hirjee, was felicitated yesterday by Friends of Naqvi Group and Team Coorg for supporting hockey. A delighted Sudhir, after receiving the memento from hockey veteran S.A.S. Naqvi, offered his full support for the game of hockey in the Sultanate, especially expatriate hockey. — Supplied picture

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SPORTS Mutassim to focus on revival of tennis After Oman’s dismal show in the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group III tournament where the team was relegated, Oman Tennis Association chairman Mutassim Al Zadjali called for longterm plan to induct more players in the national team

SPORTS REPORTER

MUSCAT: Oman Tennis Association (OTA) chairman Mutassim Al Zadjali has called for a long-term plan to revive tennis in the country following Oman’s relegation from Group III Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone that concluded in Dubai this week. Speaking to Times Sport yesterday, Mutassim defended the national team players Khalid Al Nabhani, Mohammed Al Nabhani and Mudrik Al Rawahi despite the dismal show they put up, leaving

LOOKING AHEAD: OTA chairman

Mutassim Al Zadjali

Oman at the bottom of the group at eighth position, relegated alongside Pacific Oceania. “I do not want to blame our players. I don’t think they could have done much. Khalid is pursuing his studies in the US and Mohammed is working; so we cannot expect much from them,” he said. “Our players were not in the best of their form. Had if we skipped the tournament, the ITF could have imposed a severe fine on us, hence it was necessary that they participated,” he said. The soft-spoken OTA chief admitted that there has been a “huge gap” in finding a right combination of players. “There is certainly a huge gap that we are looking to fill but that is going to take a long time,” he said. “We are very much depending on Khalid and Mohammed. I must tell you that they have

done an exceptional job for the country and we really value their services. But we cannot fully depend on them because they too have their limitations. We need to look beyond these two players in order to fill that gap,” Mutassim pointed out. The 31-year-old Khalid was honoured with a certificate and a gift by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) in Dubai for representing the country in 60 Davis Cup matches. “He is no doubt among the great players of our country. It’s a great honour not only for Khalid but also for the OTA,” he said. Heaping praise on the two brothers, Mutassim said both Khalid and Mohammed have done a commendable job in helping Oman stay in the Davis Cup top group for many years. “They played a crucial role in helping us always stay on top but this time it was not their mistake. Time has come when their level of sport is not at par with others. We could have prepared much better,” he said. According to Mutassim, OTA has been propagating the game across the country with a longterm plan. “We have done a study as per which it will take at least three to five years to fill that gap. I am sure that by then, our junior players will be able to fill that gap. Our team is committed to spreading the game in the country. I am sure that in the coming years, we will attain the same level as in our good old days and will make the country proud,” Mutassim added.

CRICKET

GCC invites players for selection trials MUSCAT: The Gulf Cricket Centre (GCC) officials has called for selection trials for players who would like to be part of the Under-13 and Under-16 that will

be playing in the Oman Cricket League this season. The selection trials will be held on Friday from 5:30pm till 7:30pm at the GCC net slocated in Ahli-Sidab Club, Dar-

sait (near Indian School Darsait). Interested players can contact Sanjit Kanojia on 99347792, Irfan Ahmed on 93282239 or Mohammed Irshad on 99047311.

SOCCER

FOOTBALL

Moyes salutes ‘world-class’ Rooney

STARS ENJOY: Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, right, is congrat-

ulated by his teammate Gareth Bale after scoring.. – Credit

Ronaldo reminds Bale who is the boss MADRID: With his hat-trick against Galatasaray, Cristiano Ronaldo reminded new Real Madrid team mate Gareth Bale who is the boss on the pitch, after the Welshman had surpassed him off it as the world’s most expensive player. The Portuguese forward grabbed three second-half goals as Real romped to a 6-1 away win in their Champions League Group B opener on Tuesday, taking his tally with the nine-times European champions to 206 goals from 204 games. Bale’s arrival from Tottenham Hotspur for 100 million euros this month, surpassing the thenrecord 94 million they paid for Ronaldo in 2009, prompted the club to move swiftly to keep their leading scorer happy. Ronaldo agreed a new contract with Real president Florentino Perez on Sunday which ties him until 2018 and reportedly makes him the world’s highest-paid player with a net annual wage of

some 17 million euros. “The last few days have been great for me,” Ronaldo told reporters. “I am very pleased. We did what we had to do, which was to win, and the others drew (Copenhagen held Juventus 1-1), which is even better. Our next two games are at home so if we win them we will be doing really well towards making the next stage.” Bale came on as a second-half substitute and played a part in setting up the fourth and ﬁfth goals for Ronaldo and Benzema. “We are getting to know each other,” Ronaldo said. “He is steadily getting up to speed because he has been out of action for a while and it is all going well for him.” Bale joked at his official presentation that Ronaldo was the boss when it came to team hierarchy, but the midﬁelder got to take the set piece that led to Ronaldo’s second goal. “It was great to be back in the Champions League again,” Bale said. — Reuters

LONDON: Manchester United manager David Moyes lavished praise on Wayne Rooney after the striker inspired his side to a 4-2 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in their opening Champions League game. The England striker scored twice and set up a late goal for Antonio Valencia to give the Premier League champions a strong start in Group A and further confirm his commitment to the United cause. Moyes spent his first close season at Old Trafford fighting to keep Rooney at the club amid interest from Chelsea, and with three goals in two games, the 27-year-old has now reached the milestone of 200 goals for United. He requires 50 further goals to surpass Bobby Charlton as United’s all-time leading scorer and Moyes says the prospect of a place in the club’s history books helped persuade the former Everton player to stay put. “It was something that we made him aware of,” Moyes said. “More importantly, I wanted to get him back in really good condition and mentally correct when he was ready to play. “I think you see him. He’s moving as well as he has done, he’s in a good place in himself at the moment, and obviously any centre-forward who’s scoring goals feels good about himself.” Moyes added: “If you want to win the Champions League, you need to have several world-class players and Wayne would certainly come into that category.” Rooney is only the fourth player to have reached a double-century of United goals, after Charlton (249), Denis Law (237) and Jack Rowley (211). “I remember coming in and saying he’s got a real chance to be one of the all-time leading goal-scorers at this club,” Moyes added. — AFP

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

A CHANCE FOR QATARI BANKS TO BEAT RIVALS

MARKE Muscat 6,582.20 + 10.74 + 0.16%

Dubai 2,609.15 - 7.25 - 0.28%

Abu Dhabi 3,768.39 - 10.21 - 0.27%

Growth of Sharia-compliant banks in Qatar is poised to outpace that of UAE lenders as borrowing rises amid $200b government spending for the World Cup. >B3

Kuwait 7,809.86 + 88.87 + 1.15%

Saudi Arabia

7,997.02 - 33.56 - 0.42%

Bahrain 1,193.12 + 0.92 + 0.08%

Qatar 9,833.10 + 26.52 + 0.27%

CRUDE OIL PRICE

CURRENCY RATES* C

DRAFT RATES (RO1)*

GOLD PRICES*

Type ............................Delivery...........Price Oman Crude............. (Spot) ......$106.70 Dubai Crude ............. (Spot) ...... $107.85 Murban Crude ........ (Spot) ...... $109.77 Arabian Light ......... (Spot) ...... $108.75 Arabian Heavy ....... (Spot) ................N/A N.Sea Brent............... (Spot) ......$108.37 West Texas Int ....... (Spot) ......$106.23

Fo Forex rates vs RO1* U US Dollar ................................. 2.58 Eu Euro .............................................1.92 Po Pound ...........................................1.62 In Indian Rs ..............................163.21 Pa Pak Rs ...................................269.54 B Bangla Taka.......................199.20

Indian Rs .................................. 163.80 Pakistan Rs ..............................271.65 Sri Lanka Rs ...........................338.65 Bangla Taka........................... 200.50 Phil Peso .................................... 112.60

Muscat 24ct per gm (RO) ............16.20 Muscat 22ct per gm (RO) ............ 15.70 10 Tola Bar Muscat (RO) ................. N/A Dubai 24ct per gm (Dh) ............ 156.75 Dubai 22ct per gm (Dh) .............148.50 10 Tola Bar Dubai (Dh) ..................... N/A

* Rates as of Sept. 18 Source: Oman UAE Exchange

* Rates as of Sept. 18 Source: Atlas Jewellery

* Rates are as of Sept. 18 Source: BankMuscat

National Detergent plans expansion to spur growth a market share of over 43 per cent in detergent powders and over 45 per cent in dishwashing liquid (DWL) — the two key segments that NDC operates in.

As a leading FMCG company in Oman, NDC is targeting a turnover of $70m by 2015. The company’s turnover in 2012 was in excess of $54m and it expects 2013 to be still better

STAFF REPORTER

MUSCAT: The National Detergent Company (NDC), one of the leading fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies in the Sultanate, has launched an aggressive plan to increase capacities for certain product ranges and is aiming for higher growth in these categories, which will be the volume driver for the NDC in the coming years. In an exclusive interview with Times Business, V. Sundaresan, director and chief executive of NDC, said, “We also have plans to increase the distribution in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and other key markets. These steps will help us achieve the aggressive long-term plans of the company in the coming years.”

NDC manufactures and distributes a wide range of highly reputed and successful brands covering various segments like detergent powders, liquid detergents, soaps, shampoos, allied laundry aids and other household cleaning products. The target for upcoming plans is to achieve a turnover of $70 million by 2015. Sundaresan, who played a key role in NDC’s growth, says, “Our turnover in 2012 was in excess of $ 54 million and we are planning to end the year 2013 with a higher ﬁgure in spite of the stiff competition and the unfavourable situation in some of the export markets.” The NDC exports to over 40 countries in the past but the bulk of the export is to the GCC countries where we have been successful in establishing good regular business.

V. Sundaresan – Supplied photo

“Some of the export markets like Egypt, Syria, Morocco and other countries in the Middle East are going through a rough period where our volumes have suffered. We have plans to get into newer markets in the future but the bulk of the sales will still be from the GCC. We are also introducing new products in all the major key markets, which have been wellaccepted by both consumers and trade. Overall export accounts for over 60 per cent of our sales volumes and is likely to be higher in the coming years,” he adds. NDC claims that in Oman, it has

Market leader Sundaresan explains, “Bahar is the market leader in both powders and DWL. We have a reasonably good market share in some of the export markets as well such as Bahrain, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. We have seen extreme competition from the multinational companies (MNCs), especially price discounts on key brands which have impacted our volume growth plans. The MNCs have access to huge funds to carry out their marketing plans both ATL and BTL which puts regional players like us under tremendous pressure. We need to ﬁnd our own innovative ways to overcome the competition. For the last so many years, we have been quite successful in that.” When asked that it has been noticed that across the FMCG categories, lower prices perk up volume growth but NDC hardly reduced its prices, he responded, “The category that we operate in does not necessarily guarantee big volume growths if the prices are

lower. You may get some advantage for a short period of time but after that, the growth saturates. The plan is to offer consistently good quality at affordable prices and to increase trials so that consumers shift to your brand and stay with it. The overall spend for a family on our range of products is not high enough warranting a price cut every time.” The NDC began manufacturing and marketing soaps and detergents in 1981. It exported its products to over 40 countries in the past and has been successful in many of those markets, especially in the powder detergent, dishwashing liquid and soap range of products. The NDC is the first ISO certified soap and detergent company in the region. The company’s flagship brand Bahar was voted as the ‘Best Brand’ in the country for the period 2010-2011, and was amongst 130 regional and multinational brands across categories in a Brand Survey.

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OIL AND GAS

Ministry inks pact for joint supplier registration Times News Service MUSCAT: The Ministry of Oil and Gas has signed an online joint supplier registration system contract with Business Gateways International. This project is part of the incountry value (ICV) initiative within the oil and gas industry, which is fully supported by the Ministry of Oil and Gas, according to a press release. The joint supplier registration system (JSRS) is a unique national project that will beneﬁt all Omani and international suppliers wanting to do business with various oil and has operators in Oman as well as with the ministry. It will eliminate the need for the suppliers to register separately with each oil and gas operator and instead it would create a ‘single window’ system for the suppliers to be validated and registered in a common pool of oil and gas supplier base. The various oil and gas operators will continuously tap into the JSRS system to seek and identify potential suppliers for their projects. The project is expected to go live in eight months’ time.

T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 3

MARKET Sembcorp Salalah share offer attractive: United Securities The public issue is priced at a discount to its 12-month target price of OMR2.040. Though it is priced at 13.6 multiple of price earnings ratio to 2013 earnings, the stock offers an upside potential of 25% on the offer price

Times News Service MUSCAT: United Securities, a leading brokerage ﬁrm on the Muscat Securities Market (MSM), yesterday recommended to the investors to subscribe to the initial public offering (IPO) of Sembcorp Salalah Power and Water Company (SPWC) with the issue being priced at a reasonable discount to its 12-month target price of OMR2.040. The brokerage ﬁrm, which released a detailed analysis about the share offer, termed it a good opportunity for investors who prefer low-risk long-run portfolio as well as for those looking for high dividend defensive stocks.

Though SPWC is priced at 13.6 multiple of price earnings ratio to 2013 earnings, the stock offers an upside potential of 25 per cent on the offer price. The SPWC’s dividend yield of 10.6 per cent (168 baisas) over a 12-month period is the key attraction currently, while sector is trading at a seven per cent yield. Superior earnings Citing how attractive the issue is, United Securities said it has stable revenue and superior earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) margins in excess of 68 per cent, attractive payouts in excess of 95 per cent over long term

and absence of cash sweep mechanism to drive FCF growth. SPWC, with its 15 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) desalination capacity and 445 MW power capacity proved to be the only integrated plant (IWPP) in Salalah that accounts for 72 per cent of Salalah’s power and 100 per cent water requirements. Its contracted revenue model with OPWP till 2027 leads to long term revenue and visible earnings, with 14 years of contract validity still remaining. “The revenue is expected to grow at a sustainable CAGR of one per cent during 2013-18 to OMR64.7 million in 2018, assuming an efficient technical availability of the plant,” noted United Securities. The EPS forecast provides enough cushion to increase payouts despite higher ﬁnancing costs but continuous deleveraging makes FCF growth seem sustainable. “We believe SPWC’s only negative aspect would be its high debt costs. However, it enjoys special tariff pricing agreements with OPWP compensating such high establishment and ﬁnancing costs. We are slightly skeptical about the listing gain due to absence of clarity in subscription

rates since the offer is too huge , to the tune of OMR53 million, which may have an effect on valuation and listing price,” added the brokerage firm. “Although SPWC’s revenue is forecasted to grow at one per cent CAGR during 2013-18 to OMR64.7 million in 2018E, we believe the superior margin remains the key attraction to our investment thesis.” United Securities also said SPWC caters to 72 per cent of total contracted capacity in Salalah system and 100 per cent of water requirement. Business risks The total demand is expected to grow from 256 MW in 2012 to 606 MW in 2019, an average increase of around 13 per cent annually. Referring to business risks involved, the brokerage firm said the key risks include SPWC’s ongoing litigation with SEPCO III (EPC contractor) and OPWP, though the management has clarified that there would be minimal impact. Additionally, the plant achieved full production level in May, 2012 and possible guidance of full operational estimates as per the prospectus. “Any deviations from this would likely affect valuations, and

thereby our rating.” The Salalah System covers the city of Salalah and surrounding areas in the Governorate of Dhofar, serving around 70,000 electricity customers. It currently comprises an integrated generation, transmission and distribution system, owned and operated by Dhofar Power Copmany (DPC) pursuant to a concession agreement signed with the government in 2001 and a new independent power generation and water desalination facility. The DPC acts as the sole electricity supplier within the service area covered by the system, supplying existing and new electricity customers. The Salalah System is interconnected with the power system of Petroleum Development Oman via a link between Thumrait and Harweel. This interconnection provides important reliability beneﬁts through sharing generation reserves.

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R E A L E S TAT E

Tenders for housing units awarded MUSCAT: Eng. Saif bin Amer Al Shaqsi, Ministry of Housing undersecretary, chaired the weekly meeting of the committee of internal tenders. The meeting awarded OMR491,265 worth projects to build new housing units. The meeting awarded tenders to build ﬁve residential units in the Governorate of Muscat, three of them in the wilayat of Seeb and one in each of the wilayats of Al Amerat and Quriyat at a cost of OMR129,718; building of 25 housing annexes in the housing unit project in the wilayat of Dima Wal Taeen in the North Al Sharqiyah Governorate at a cost of OMR336,672; the special tender for rebidding of the contract of building one housing unit in the wilayat of Masirah in the South Al Sharqiyah Governorate at a cost of OMR24,875, in addition to building two mosques in the wilayat of Mahoot in the Al Wusta Governorate at a cost of OMR323,358. The meeting opened the bids of four tenders for consultancy services for the construction of 20 housing units, a mosque, a public majlis in the wilayat of Sur in the South Al Sharqiyah Governorate; the construction of one housing unit in the wilayat of Al Seeb among other tenders. - ONA

ECONOMY

RBI chief poised to ease predecessor’s crisis measures

Raghuram Rajan.– Bloomberg News

NEW DELHI: Investors are boosting bets Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Raghuram Rajan will signal a reversal in his predecessor’s tightening measures as the rupee strengthens, interestrate swaps show. The cost to fix one-year borrowing costs has retreated 110 basis points from a five-year high on August 20 to 9.16 per cent, according to data. Rajan will hold the repurchase rate at 7.25 per cent on September 20, his first meeting in charge of the central bank, according to all 34 economists in a survey. The similar swap rate dropped 15 basis points in the period to 4.04 per cent in China. Rajan needs to arrest India’s worst economic slowdown in a

decade even as exchange-rate volatility remains near a five-year high on United States Federal Reserve plans to taper stimulus policies. The rupee’s 9 per cent rebound from a record low in August gives the RBI room to scale back steps taken since mid-July to tighten cash supply, Kotak Mahindra Asset Management said. “The stability seen in the dollarrupee ahead of the policy meeting at least sets the stage for a gradual withdrawal or a gradual recalibration of the tightening measures,” Lakshmi Iyer, Mumbai-based head of fixed income at Kotak Asset, which manages assets worth Rs377 billion ($6 billion), said in an interview. “Markets will definitely watch out for very strong cues on that front.”

Cash curbs One-year swap rates jumped as high as 10.26 per cent last month as the RBI, under former governor Duvvuri Subbarao, raised two of its interest rates and curbed daily funding support to lenders to support the rupee. The exchange rate, which touched an all-time low of 68.85 per dollar on August 28, has appreciated to 63.17 since then, helped by Rajan’s measures to boost dollar supply including a concessional currencyswap facility for banks. The central bank is likely to closely watch currency swings before reversing the tightening measures as a falling rupee fuels price gains. Every 10 per cent decline in the rupee adds as much as 80 basis points to India’s inﬂation,

according to Nomura Holdings Inc. After taking over on September 4, Rajan said containing inflation expectations is the central bank’s key goal. Gains in India’s wholesale-price index quickened to 6.1 per cent in August, the fastest pace in six months, according to the latest government data. The RBI predicts inflation will be around 5.5 per cent in the fiscal year through March 2014. Continuing vigil “The liquidity tightening measures by the Reserve Bank are aimed at checking undue volatility in the foreign-exchange market and will be rolled back in a calibrated manner as stability is restored, enabling monetary policy to revert to

supporting growth with a continuing vigil on inﬂation,” the central bank said in its last policy statement on July 30. The RBI’s policy stance will also be determined by the impact of the Fed’s stimulus reduction on local markets, according to Bank of America and Nomura. The US central bank will probably trim its monthly bond-buying program by $10 billion to $75 billion at a twoday meeting ending today, a survey of economists showed this month. Removing the curbs on cash supply prematurely could fuel further weakness in the rupee, given the prospect of the Fed cutting back its asset-purchase programme, says Credit Suisse. One-month implied volatility in the currency surged 667 basis points. - Bloomberg News

T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 3

MARKET Chance for Qatar banks to beat rivals Growth of Sharia-compliant banks in Qatar is poised to outpace that of UAE lenders as borrowing rises amid $200b government spending for the 2022 soccer World Cup

DOHA: Growth of Sharia-compliant banks in Qatar is poised to outpace that of United Arab Emirates lenders as borrowing rises amid $200 billion government spending for the 2022 soccer World Cup. Qatar’s four Islamic lenders will almost double their asset base to $100 billion by 2017, Standard & Poor’s said in a report dated September 16. The assets of the largest Sharia-compliant bank in the country, Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), last RECORD LOSSES

Sharp to raise

$1.5b from share sale TOKYO: Sharp, a supplier of screens to Apple, will raise as much as ¥149 billion ($1.5 billion) in share sales in an effort to rebuild its balance sheet after record annual losses. Japan’s largest maker of liquid-crystal displays (LCD) will sell shares to the public and make allotments to Makita, Denso and Lixil Group, the Osaka-based company said in a statement yesterday. The proceeds will be used for capital expenditure, it said. Intensified competition in LCDs and flat-panel TVs drove Sharp to losses totaling ¥921 billion over the past two financial years. The 100-yearold company, which supplies screens for Apple’s iPads and iPhones, has raised funds since last year in minority stake sales to Samsung and Qualcomm. Sharp also raised its first-half forecasts, with operating income projected at ¥30 billion in the six months ending September 30 from ¥15 billion. Sales will be ¥1.31 trillion, up from an earlier projection of ¥1.27 trillion. The company’s net loss forecast was halved to ¥10 billion. The stock rose 1.6 per cent to close at ¥376 in Tokyo trading before the announcement. The shares have climbed 24 per cent so far this year, while Japan’s benchmark Topix index has gained 39 per cent. Annual losses Dentsu, the Japanese advertising company that bought UK’s Aegis Group in March, raised $1.2 billion in a July offering. Suntory Beverage & Food and Olympus are also among the companies that raised funds through share sales this year, the data show. In March, Samsung said an offer to buy Sharp’s photocopier business was rejected. The Suwon, South Korea-based maker of Galaxy smartphones that month agreed to buy about 3 per cent of Sharp for ¥10.4 billion. Sharp last month reported a net loss of ¥18 billion in the June quarter, narrower than the ¥138 billion loss a year earlier. Operating profit, or sales minus the cost of goods sold and administrative expenses, totaled ¥3 billion. - Bloomberg News

year grew ﬁve times faster than those of the biggest one in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai Islamic Bank. Spending for the world’s mostwatched sporting event, will spur lending for roads, stadiums and hotels. Bond sales by Qatari Islamic banks, only two of which have sold sukuk, also stand to beneﬁt from the implementation of new global capital rules, Standard & Poor’s said. “Qatari banks in general clearly have substantial scope to grow

their asset base given the sheer magnitude of projects and infrastructure development going on in Doha at present,” said Chavan Bhogaita, head of markets strategy at National Bank of Abu Dhabi. The project pipeline in the UAE is also ﬂowing, “albeit not at the same aggressive pace,” he said. Borrowing appetite QIB’s Islamic bonds due October 2017 yield 2.73 per cent, according to data. DIB’s sukuk maturing in May the same year has a yield of 3.32 per cent. Both banks are rated A by Fitch Ratings, the sixth-highest investment grade. That compares to a yield of 3.32 per cent for the HSBC/Nasdaq Dubai GCC Financial Services US Dollar Sukuk Index. Qatar now has one of the fastest-growing Islamic banking industries due to surge in demand for local credit, Standard & Poor’s said in its report. - Bloomberg News

JA PA N

3D search engine-printer from Yahoo TOKYO: Yahoo Japan has developed a voice-activated Internet search that links to a 3D printer, letting users look online for blueprints to deliver solid objects in a few minutes, the company said. The search engine scours the Internet for information that it can use to print palm-sized renderings of items as diverse as hippopotamuses or ﬁghter jets. Heralded as a technology that is potentially as game-changing as the steam engine was in its day, 3D printers have become a more commonplace reality over the last few years. - AFP

T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 3

MARKET MSM index ends higher

OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

Oman & Emirates was the most active in

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ........................................6,597.89 ...............6,571.86 ...................6,582.20 ................... 6,571.46.................. 10.74 ................... 0.16 Financial Index ..................................... 8,113.16 ...............8,081.68 ...................8,084.02 ...................8,079.87.................... 4.15 ................... 0.05 Industrial Index ................................... 9,552.06 .............. 9,522.96 ................... 9,524.87 ................... 9,549.41............... -24.54 .................. -0.26 Services Index ...................................... 3,438.48 .............. 3,434.02 ................... 3,436.57 ...................3,433.99....................2.58 ...................0.08 MSM SHARIAH INDEX................... 1,040.23 ...............1,038.45 ................... 1,040.23 ................... 1,038.47.....................1.76 ................... 0.17 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 16,888,192...................5,166,650 ................. 1,230 ............... 13,396,960,291 ................ 13 ......................15 ....................24 .........................52 ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

terms of volume, while Bank Muscat was the most active in terms of turnover yesterday MUSCAT: The MSM30 Index witnessed a choppy session yesterday and closed on a positive note at 6582.20 points, up by 0.16 per cent. MSM Shariah Index also closed up by 0.17 per cent at 1040.23 points. Oman & Emirates was the most active in terms of volume, while Bank Muscat was the most active in terms of turnover. United Finance was the top gainer, closing up by 3.45 per cent, while ONIC Holding was the top loser and closed down by 3.30 per cent. Altogether 1,230 trades were executed in yesterday’s session, generating a turnover of OMR5.16 million with over 16.88 million shares traded. Out of 52 traded stocks, 13 advanced, 15 declined and 24 were unchanged. Foreign investors were net buyers for OMR211,000 followed by GCC and Arab investors for OMR210,000 while Omani investors were net sellers to the tune of OMR421,000 worth of shares. Financial Sector Index was up by 0.05 per cent at 8084.02 points. United Finance, Al Anwar Holding, Bank Muscat, DBIH and Bank Nizwa increased by 3.45 per cent, 1.74 per cent, 1.31 per cent, 1.06 per cent and 0.92 per cent, respectively. ONIC Holding, OMINVEST, Al Sharqiyah Investment, Taageer Finance and Gulf Investment Services declined by 3.30 per cent, 2.39 per cent, 1.80 per cent, 1.29 per cent and 1.15 per cent, respectively. The Industrial Sector Index down by 0.26 per cent at 9524.87 points. Al Anwar Ceramic, National Aluminum Products, Oman Cement and Sharqiyah Desalination Co increased by 0.83 per cent, 0.32 per cent, 0.13 per cent and 0.02 per cent, respectively. Jazeera Steel Product, Galfar Engineering, Dhofar Cattlefeed, Voltamp Energy and Al Hassan Engineering declined by1.33 per cent, 1.27 per cent, 1.18 per cent, 1.6 per cent, and 0.44 per cent, respectively.

Services Sector Index closed at 3436.57 points, marginally up by 0.07 per cent. Oman Telecommunications Company was the only gainer and was up by 1.05 per cent to close at OMR1.547. Al Jazeira Services was the only loser in the sector and was down by 1.06 per cent to close at 0.465. Emerging stocks drop Emerging-market stocks declined from a three-month high, led by technology shares and Indonesian banks, before the US Federal Reserve decides whether to reduce monetary stimulus. Tencent Holdings sank the most in six weeks in Hong Kong, retreating for a second day from a record high. Bank Rakyat Indonesia slid 3.7 per cent in Jakarta after HSBC downgraded the stock. The rupiah weakened 0.5 per cent against the dollar, while South Africa’s rand and the Hungarian forint fell at least 0.2 per cent. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index fell 0.4 per cent to 998.64 in Hong Kong, its first loss in three days. The Fed concludes a two-day policy meeting yesterday, with 33 of 64 economists in a survey predicting the central bank will reduce its buying of Treasuries by $5 billion or less, while 31 forecast a cut of $10 billion or more. The developingnation gauge has rallied 89 per cent since the Fed’s first round of bond-buying in 2008. “Most investors are waiting for a clearer policy from the Fed today,” Budsares Yunniyom, a fund manager at Asset Plus Fund Management, which oversees about $884 million of assets, said in Bangkok. “A larger-than-expected tapering will hurt emerging markets and lead to an outflow of funds. If the tapering is smaller, we expect a rally in stocks.” The MSCI emerging markets index lost 5.4 per cent this year, compared with a 16 per cent gain in the MSCI World Index of developed-nation shares. - United Securities/Bloomberg News

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 Security Name ....................................................Volume .....Turnover ... Trades ......... High.........Low ..........Close ......... Prev. .......... Diff. ............ Diff .............Last ..........Last ............Last ................Market Cap.........Par ........................................................................................................................................................................................ Pr. ............ Close ........... RO ............... % .................Pr ..............Bid ............ Offer ............................................value

REGULAR MARKET .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... UNITED FINANCE ............................................. 10,000 ................1,500................. 1 ............0.150.......... 0.150 ............ 0.150 .............0.145 ............ 0.005 .............3.448 ............. 0.150 ............ 0.146 ..............0.150 ............... 41,251,983.300 ......0.100 AL ANWAR HOLDING ...................................1,912,844 ...........560,636............ 147 ............0.296 .........0.290 ............0.293 ............ 0.288............ 0.005 ............. 1.736.............. 0.291 ............0.290 ..............0.291 ...............35,160,000.000 ......0.100 BANK MUSCAT ............................................ 1,135,444 ...........704,199.............121 ............0.624 ......... 0.616 ............0.620 .............0.612 ............ 0.008 ............. 1.307...............0.616 ............ 0.616 ..............0.619 .........1,334,401,624.080 ......0.100 OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION .....................333,988 ........... 516,696............104 ............ 1.551 ...........1.531............. 1.547..............1.531 .............0.016 ............. 1.045.............. 1.540 .............1.531...............1.540 .........1,160,250,000.000 ......0.100 AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ............................... 73,690 ..............35,955...............10 ............0.489 ......... 0.485 ............0.488 ............ 0.484............ 0.004 .............0.826 ............. 0.489 ............ 0.489 ............. 0.490............. 114,724,029.312 ......0.100 OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING ...........2,603,656 ...........462,749.............. 85 ............0.180.......... 0.174 ............ 0.178..............0.177 ............ 0.001 .............0.565 ..............0.174 ............ 0.174 ..............0.175 ............... 21,693,750.000 ......0.100 BANK SOHAR .................................................. 614,370 ...........122,899.............. 25 ............0.201 .........0.200 ............0.200 .............0.199 ............ 0.001 .............0.503 ............. 0.200 ............0.200 ..............0.201 ........... 220,000,000.000 ......0.100 NATIONAL ALUMINIUM PRODUCTS ............... 138,437 ............. 44,014...............15 ............0.319.......... 0.317 ............ 0.318..............0.317 ............ 0.001 ............. 0.315...............0.318 ............ 0.318 ..............0.319 ................10,675,721.100 ......0.100 OMAN CEMENT ................................................29,737 ............. 23,067.................6 ............0.780.......... 0.775 ............ 0.776..............0.775 ............ 0.001 .............0.129 ............. 0.780 ............ 0.776 ..............0.780 .............256,757,222.960 ......0.100 AHLI BANK ...................................................... 156,623 .............. 31,951............... 11 ............0.204 .........0.204 ............0.204 ............ 0.204............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.204 ............0.204 ............. 0.205.............257,833,590.600 ......0.100 ALMAHA PETROLEUM PRODUCTS MAR. .............1,000 ............. 21,900................. 1 ...........21.900 .......21.900 ..........21.900 .......... 21.900 .......... 0.000 .............0.000 ............ 21.900..........20.700 ........... 21.900............ 151,110,000.000 ......1.000 AL OMANIYA FINANCIAL SER. .................................. 690 ...................248................. 1 ............0.360 ......... 0.360 ............0.360 ............ 0.360............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.360 ............ 0.365 ............. 0.000...............80,390,516.400 ......0.100 DHOFAR INT.DEV.AND INV. HOLD. ........................... 9,975 ................5,985................. 1 ............0.600 ......... 0.600 ............0.600 ............ 0.600............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.600 ............0.600 ............. 0.620............120,000,000.000 ......0.100 GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ...................6,500 ................1,222.................2 ............0.188.......... 0.188 ............ 0.188 .............0.188 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ..............0.188 ............ 0.186 ..............0.189 .................3,948,000.000 ......0.100 HSBC BANK OMAN ............................................ 82,250 ..............14,887...............17 ............ 0.181 ...........0.181 ............ 0.181..............0.181 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ..............0.181 ............ 0.181...............0.182 ............ 362,056,614.990 ......0.100 NAWRAS ......................................................... 106,218 ............. 55,345............... 11 ............0.523 ......... 0.521 ............ 0.521..............0.521 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ..............0.521 ............ 0.521 ............. 0.524.............339,141,943.830 ......0.100 OMAN CHLORINE ...........................................250,000 ........... 167,500.................5 ............0.670 ......... 0.670 ............0.670 .............0.670 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.670 ............0.000 ..............0.670 ............... 41,387,258.090 ......0.100 OMAN FISHERIES ........................................... 214,810 .............22,023.............. 22 ............0.103.......... 0.102 ............ 0.103 .............0.103 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.102 ............ 0.101 ..............0.103 ...............12,875,000.000 ......0.100 OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE ............... 717,746 ........... 179,647.............. 62 ............0.254 ......... 0.249 ............0.250 ............ 0.250............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.250 ............0.249 ..............0.251 ..............50,000,000.000 ......0.100 OMAN UNITED INSURANCE ............................154,778 ............. 41,945...............13 ............0.271.......... 0.271 ............ 0.271 .............0.271 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ..............0.271 ............0.268 ..............0.271 ...............27,100,000.000 ......0.100 PORT SERVICES CORPORATION ...........................4,600 ................ 2,415................. 1 ............0.525 ......... 0.525 ............0.529 .............0.529............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.525 ............ 0.525 ..............0.530 ...............50,276,160.000 ......0.100 RAYSUT CEMENT ...........................................228,230 ........... 447,331.................7 ............1.960.......... 1.960 ............1.960 .............1.960 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 1.960 ............ 1.960 ..............1.980 ........... 392,000,000.000 ......0.100 RENAISSANCE SERVICES ................................ 376,103 ...........241,083...............19 ............0.643 ......... 0.634 ............ 0.641 .............0.641 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.634 ............ 0.634 ..............0.641 .............180,822,545.014 ......0.100 SOHAR POWER .......................................................844 ................ 1,933.................4 ............2.290 .........2.290 ............2.290 ............ 2.290............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 2.290 ............ 2.281 ..............2.411 ............... 50,611,290.000 ......1.000 TRANSGULF IND. INV. HOLDING .................... 1,176,800 ............191,873.............. 62 ............ 0.165...........0.161 ............ 0.163..............0.163 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.162 ............ 0.161...............0.162 ...............10,900,625.000 ......0.100 OMAN CABLES INDUSTRY .................................... 9,081 ..............16,909...............12 ............1.868.......... 1.850 ............ 1.862 .............1.868 ........... -0.006 ........... -0.321..............1.868 ............ 1.868 ..............1.900 .............167,021,400.000 ......0.100 AL HASSAN ENGINEERING ............................. 412,526 ............. 94,435.............. 28 ............0.233 ......... 0.226 ............0.229 ............ 0.230............-0.001 ........... -0.435............. 0.226 ............0.226 ............. 0.228...............17,222,632.000 ......0.100 GLOBAL FINANCIAL INVESTMENT .................742,887 ........... 114,649.............. 50 ............ 0.157.......... 0.153 ............ 0.154 .............0.155 ............-0.001 ........... -0.645..............0.153 ............ 0.153 ..............0.154 ..............30,800,000.000 ......0.100 AL JAZEERA SERVICES .................................... 101,350 ..............47,130............... 11 ............0.470 ......... 0.465 ............0.465 .............0.470........... -0.005 ........... -1.064............. 0.465 ............0.460 ..............0.465 ...............28,459,986.945 ......0.100 GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES .................... 1,525,010 ........... 261,605............104 ............ 0.175.......... 0.170 ............ 0.172..............0.174 ........... -0.002 ........... -1.149 ..............0.170 ............ 0.169 ..............0.170 ................10,121,033.324 ......0.100 VOLTAMP ENERGY ..........................................112,421 ..............47,835...............10 ............ 0.431.......... 0.425 ............0.426 .............0.431 ........... -0.005 ........... -1.160 ............. 0.426 ............ 0.426 ............. 0.429...............25,773,000.000 ......0.100 DHOFAR CATTLE FEED .....................................20,000 ................5,040................. 1 ............0.252 ......... 0.252 ............0.252 .............0.255 ........... -0.003 ............-1.176 ............. 0.252 ............ 0.251 ............. 0.252.............. 19,404,000.000 ......0.100 GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. ..................... 49,440 ..............15,446.................9 ............ 0.313.......... 0.312 ............ 0.312 .............0.316 ........... -0.004 ........... -1.266............. 0.312 ............ 0.312 ..............0.316 ..............82,882,800.000 ......0.100 TAAGEER FINANCE ..........................................28,000 ............... 4,290.................5 ............ 0.156...........0.151............. 0.153..............0.155 ........... -0.002 ........... -1.290..............0.151 ............ 0.150 ..............0.154 ...............36,261,000.000 ......0.100 AL JAZEERA STEEL PRODUCTS ........................ 108,810 ............. 32,430...............10 ............0.299 ......... 0.298 ............0.298 ............ 0.302........... -0.004 ........... -1.325............. 0.299 ............0.299 ............. 0.302............... 37,219,592.080 ......0.100 AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ..............815,665 ........... 133,928.............. 36 ............0.167.......... 0.164 ............ 0.164 .............0.167 ........... -0.003 ........... -1.796 ............. 0.164 ............ 0.163 ..............0.166 ............... 13,776,000.000 ......0.100 OMINVEST ......................................................451,705 ...........202,941.............. 32 ............0.457 ......... 0.446 ............0.449 ............ 0.460............-0.011 ........... -2.391............. 0.448 ............0.444 ..............0.447 .............137,452,370.000 ......0.100 ONIC. HOLDING ................................................107,100 ..............40,765...............13 ............0.385 ......... 0.380 ............ 0.381............. 0.394............-0.013 ...........-3.299............. 0.380 ............ 0.376 ............. 0.380...............66,074,258.250 ......0.100 SUM: ............................................................................... 14,823,328 ........4,916,410.........1,074 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ...................................................................................TRADED SEC. ......................38.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

PARALLEL MARKET ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING .......................... 36,900 ................3,507.................7 ............0.096 ......... 0.093 ............0.095 ............ 0.094............ 0.001 .............1.064 ............. 0.093 ............ 0.093 ..............0.095 .................2,850,000.000 ......0.100 BANK NIZWA ..................................................349,072 ............. 38,259.............. 36 ............ 0.110.......... 0.109 ............ 0.110..............0.109 ............ 0.001 ............. 0.917.............. 0.109 ............ 0.109 ..............0.110 ............165,000,000.000 ......0.100 BANK DHOFAR ..................................................52,000 .............. 18,757............... 11 ............0.365 ......... 0.360 ............ 0.361............. 0.360............ 0.001 .............0.278 ............. 0.360 ............ 0.359 ............. 0.364............. 436,856,251.681 ......0.100 SHARQIYAH DESALINATION ..............................12,878 .............54,604...............17 ............4.245 ......... 4.239 ............4.240 ............ 4.239............ 0.001 .............0.024 ............. 4.240 ............ 4.210 ............. 4.240............... 27,645,410.560 ......1.000 ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK ..........................................92,782 ................ 9,785.................6 ............0.106.......... 0.105 ............ 0.105 .............0.105 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.106 ............ 0.106 ..............0.107 ............105,000,000.000 ......0.100 CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IND. ...................876,000 ..............62,231.............. 37 ............0.072 ......... 0.071 ............ 0.071..............0.071 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ..............0.071 ............ 0.071 ..............0.072 .................6,035,000.000 ......0.100 FINANCIAL SERVICES ..................................... 122,332 ............. 14,680.................4 ............0.120 ......... 0.120 ............0.120 .............0.120 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.120 ............ 0.120 ..............0.121 .................7,800,000.000 ......0.100 MAJAN COLLEGE ...................................................... 17 ........................ 7................. 1 ............0.402 ......... 0.402 ............0.404 ............ 0.404............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.402 ............0.402 ............. 0.000...............12,120,000.000 ......0.100 OMAN FIBER OPTIC ....................................................40 ....................132................. 1 ............ 3.311 ...........3.311............. 3.010 .............3.010 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ..............3.311 .............3.311.............. 0.000................14,279,611.570 ......1.000 DHOFAR UNIVERSITY ..........................................2,600 ................3,122.................6 ............1.205.......... 1.200 ............ 1.201..............1.205 ........... -0.004 ...........-0.332 ............ 1.200 ............ 1.203 ..............1.249 ...............16,814,000.000 ......1.000 SUM: ..................................................................................1,544,621 ...........205,083............ 126 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ...................................................................................TRADED SEC. ......................10..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

BONDS MARKET ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ RENAISSANCE SERVICES BONDS3.75............... 400,000 ............. 41,600................. 1 ............0.104 ......... 0.104 ............0.104 .............0.104 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.104 ............ 0.103 ............. 0.000...............44,006,734.512 ......0.100 AL OMANIYA FIN. SER. BONDS 5 ..............................7,500 ................... 758................. 1 ............ 0.101.......... 0.101 ............ 0.101..............0.102 ............-0.001 ...........-0.980 .............0.101 ............0.000 ..............0.102 ................. 1,020,543.289 ......0.100 SUM: .....................................................................................407,500 ............. 42,358.................2 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ...................................................................................TRADED SEC. ........................2..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

MUMBAI BOURSE

INDIAN CURRENCY

SENSEX WATCH SFinancial Tech ....174.60........10.25 Emami-$ ..................479.70....... 24.50 Wockhardt ............. 559.90........26.65 Yes Bank...................315.65........14.85 United Brew-$ ...... 858.20........37.80

MCX .........................410.45......-33.60 Muthoot Fin ............96.80........ -6.80 BHEL .......................130.05........ -6.50 Hero MotoCorp . 2011.25...... -58.75 ADANI POWER .....33.90........ -0.90

Stocks gain led by banks MUMBAI: Indian stocks advanced the most in a week, led by banks and utilities, before the Federal Reserve decides whether to reduce monthly bond purchases that boosted emerging-market assets. State Bank of India rose for the ﬁrst time in three days, leading an industry gauge to its highest level since July 26. Power producer NTPC climbed to a two-month high. Drugmaker Wockhardt increased by the daily limit after plunging 19 per cent in the last two days. The S&P BSE Sensex rallied 0.8 per cent to 19,962.16, with bulk of the gain coming in the ﬁnal halfhour of trade. Among 64 economists surveyed, 33 predict the Fed will cut its $85 billion of monthly

bond buying by $5 billion or less, with 31 forecasting a cut of $10 billion or more. “Traders have positioned for a dovish statement from the Fed,” Jagannadham Thunuguntla, chief strategist at SMC Global Securities in New Delhi, said by phone. “There can be a selloff tomorrow even if there’s a whiff of disappointment. We expect the RBI to maintain a status quo at its meeting.” State Bank added 2.5 per cent to Rs1,673. HDFC Bank increased 1.3 per cent to Rs650. Yes Bank jumped 5 per cent, paring this year’s loss to 32 per cent. The 13-member S&P BSE Bankex added 1.6 per cent, paring its year-todate decline to 17 per cent.

Hindustan Unilever advanced the most in a week to Rs642. Wockhardt rose to Rs559. The drugmaker has still lost 64 per cent of its value this year after rallying 469 per cent in 2012. NTPC rallied 3.4 per cent to Rs144. Tata Power surged 3.4 per cent to Rs78, ending a two-day, 3.6 per cent drop. Polaris Financial Technology gained 1.7 per cent to Rs121 after the ‘Economic Times’ reported, citing people it didn’t identify, the software-services company is in talks to sell its services division to Japan’s NEC for about $400 million to $450 million. The S&P BSE Sensex has increased 2.8 per cent this year in local currency terms and is valued

at 13.9 times projected 12- month earnings, compared with the five-year average of 14.1 times. It has lost 11 per cent this year in dollar terms. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index trades at 10.6 times. Volume on the Sensex yesterday was 44 percent below the 30-day average. Overseas investors pulled $3.7 billion from Indian stocks in the three months to August 31 as capital fled emerging markets amid prospects of the Fed paring its stimulus. Funds bought a net $55 million of local equities on September 17, data from the market regulator show. That took this year’s net inflow to $12.5 billion. - Bloomberg News

Rupee closes flat MUMBAI: The Indian rupee yesterday closed just a paisa lower at 63.38 against the dollar, the narrowest movement in four months, as the currency market remained directionless ahead of the outcome of the United States Federal Reserve policy meeting. The local currency resumed weak at 63.45 a dollar from the previous close of 63.37 at the interbank foreign exchange market and dropped to a low of 63.46. It bounced back to a high of 63.04 on firm local equities and slipped again on dollar demand from importers, mainly oil refiners, to end at 63.38, a fall of one paisa. On May 16, the rupee closed one paisa higher at 54.77. The Fed’s decision on tapering its monthly $85 billion bondbuying programme was expected later yesterday. The outcome of the two-day Fed meeting will be known after 2pm EST in the US (about 11.30pm Indian time). “Rupee along with most asset classes are on a wait and see mode with US FOMC meeting slated tonight,” said Anindya Banerjee, currency analyst at Kotak Securities. “If the Fed does not change the language to dovish and does a taper of $10-15 billion, the rupee could come under pressure.

A range of 61.50 to 64.50 could be seen over this week.” Local stocks ended higher at the fag end of a mostly ﬂat session, with the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex up by 158.13 points or 0.8 per cent. Foreign institutional investors bought a net Rs318.05 crore of shares on Tuesday, according to provisional data with the stock exchanges. The dollar index was down 0.05 per cent against a basket of six major global rivals. The markets are also awaiting the Reserve Bank of India’s midquarter monetary policy review on September 20. Forward dollar premiums declined on sustained receipts by exporters. The benchmark six-month forward dollar premium payable in February eased to 253-258 paise from 254-1/2-259-1/2 paise and far-forward contracts maturing in August softened to 459-464 paise from 460-465 paise. The RBI ﬁxed the reference rate for the dollar at 63.1440 and for the euro at 84.3675. The rupee weakened to 101.20 against the pound from 100.83 previously and declined further against the Japanese yen to 64.01 per 100 yen from 63.94. It recovered slightly to 84.62 against the euro from 84.67. - PTI

B SECTION

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM T H UTRH SU DAY, R S DAY, SEPT FE EM B RBUA E RRY 1 9, 2280, 1230 1 3

SIGHT & SOUND

THROUGH THE NEVER First official movie on Metallica is stitching of a concert ﬁlm that has a narrative, a story intertwined and weaved into the actual concert footage

t’s a concert film, but not entirely, and it doesn’t have any dialogue. Instead Through the Never — directed by Nimrod Antal, whose previous credits include Armored (2009) and Predators (2010) — features the band on stage in Vancouver while a crew member named Trip (Dane DeHaan) is sent on a mysterious mission that proves dangerous as he runs into a violent, anarchistic clash between police and an angry citizenry. That was certainly the way the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame headbangers viewed their new film, Metallica: Through the Never, which will go into general release on October 4. There’s plenty of fire and wanton destruction, plus at least one horseman of the Apocalypse, while Metallica and its arena full of fans rock on — in glorious 3D, no less. “It’s pretty complex,” Metallica singer James Hetfield says, speaking by telephone from the group’s home office in San Francisco. “It’s like three movies in one. There’s a lot of different dynamics happening with this movie. It’s pretty scary.” Guitarist Kirk Hammett adds that, from the get-go, Metallica wanted to turn the notion of a conventional rock-band film on its ear. “There’s not going to be, like, footage of us backstage or interviews or anything,” Hammett explains. “It’s going to be strictly live footage and a story line that weaves in and out of the film, and that’s something we’re all really excited about. It’s really, really an intense sort of thing, because it’s storytelling but there’s no real dialogue.” The idea of a Metallica movie has been around awhile. Bassist Robert Trujillo recalls “talk about something like this” when he joined the band back in 2003. For his part, Antal says that he was approached about the project about three years ago, first by “an agent who doesn’t even represent me” and then by Through the Never producer Charlotte Huggins. Saying yes, the 39-year-old director says, was “a no-brainer.” “I, of course, was a fan of theirs growing up and have listened to their music throughout

It’s going to be strictly live footage and a story line that weaves in and out of the film, and that’s something we’re all really excited about. It’s really, really an intense sort of thing, because it’s storytelling but there’s no real dialogue Kirk Hammett Metallica Guitarist my life,” Antal says. “(Huggins) told me that the band had a pretty interesting idea, and it was a little bit different than the usual concert film. I was intrigued.” A meeting with drummer Lars Ulrich sealed the deal. “He told me that they’d been entertaining an idea of creating a concert film that had a narrative, a story intertwined and weaved into the actual concert footage,” Antal recalls. “It felt like a completely original, different thing. I’d never seen or heard of anything like it, so I was immediately intrigued, both by the idea of working with them and by this incredibly strange concept they had.” The group left it to Antal to figure out exactly what the plot of Through the Never would be. “They challenged me to come up with some sort of narrative that would be able to meet the thing they wanted to do, with no dialogue,” he says. Antal’s script was inspired by Paulo Coelho’s coming-of-age novel The Alchemist (Harper Torch, 1988), as well as by the Occupy movement that was raging across the United States

while he was writing. Also part of the equation was Dan Brown, Metallica’s live-concert producer, who inspired the Trip character. “I met with Dan Brown and we hung out for one night just talking,” Antal recalls, “and it was truly fascinating to see how much love and how much respect he had for this band. It was beyond just, ‘Oh, they’re Metallica. ‘He had a personal investment in them. “And then, meeting other crew members who work at the concerts and people who work for them at (management company) Q Prime, you see this incredible loyalty and passion, and that was the final bit for me. That was how Trip’s story was created.” Metallica proved “super supportive” and easy to work with, Antal says. The group even allowed the director to “manipulate” the set list for the concerts, shot during a two-night Vancouver engagement in August 2012, to fit the script’s needs. “To work with the band is a big deal,” Antal says, “but as artists they are completely aware of the artistic process, and they were very giving in that regard.” The band was somewhat surprised at the expense involved in producing the project, Hetfield admits. “Every time we go and see it we tweak it here and there,” the singer says, laughing. “It’s like putting a song together, only it’s a little more expensive.” Hetfield admits that Through the Never also has impeded progress on Metallica’s next album, the band’s follow-up to Death Magnetic (2008). “Yeah, this movie is keeping us pretty busy at this point,” he says, “and it’s taking a lot of our time and effort — and touring. We’re trying to pay for this movie, so we’re having to go make some money and we’re going out and playing some more obscure places, and that’s keeping us from getting in there and finishing a record. “Hopefully we can break even with this and make it something that’s historic and unique and becomes kind of a cult classic.” That’s Trujillo’s goal as well. —Gary Graff/The New York Times News Service

T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 3

ETCETERA fruits of

H O L LY W O O D

Mark Wahlberg finally a high school graduate ACTOR Mark Wahlberg, 42, has revealed that he finished his high schooling and finally got his diploma only this summer. He had dropped out of school after the ninth grade, eonline.com reports. “For almost a year, I’ve been taking classes and studying any chance I could get-on the set, traveling for work and at home. It has been both humbling and challenging, but I’m happy to report that I am officially a high school graduate,” he added.

Lily Collins, most dangerous cyber celebrity LILY COLLINS has topped the Most Dangerous Cyber Celebrity of 2013 list. The list is part of an annual research conducted by security system McAfee. Collins, who has featured in movies like Mirror Mirror, The Abduction and The Blind Side, has replaced British actress Emma Watson for the title.

Portman’s unfound fears NATALIE PORTMAN has confessed that she secretly panics about tripping while walking on the red carpet. It’s tricky, she believes. “It’s a very serious game. I remember my ﬁrst red carpet, Nowadays, I’m used to it,” she was quoted as saying. —IANS

heir first hit was 30 years ago this year. That’s when a sad little ditty called Cruel Summer hit the charts — and the Bananarama legend was born. They’ve had more singles hits than the Supremes and still hold the record for the all-girl group with the most chart entries in history. And now the iconic girl group is delighting a whole new generation of fans and proving that their music is timeless. They have a new album out later this year and their first six albums, dating back to the 1980s are being reissued by a major record label. On top of that, they are about to start a series of major tours taking in not only the UK but France, Belgium , Germany and Poland, too. “We have always loved what we do,” says Keren Woodward, original founder of the group. “We don’t care about getting older (they are in their fifties.) We still feel like teenagers — and a new generation of fans seems to like our songs. “Why should we stop while we’re having such a great time? It’s singing that keeps us young.” Today the only difference is that the trio is now a duo-Keren Woodward and Sara Dallin — as the third member, Jacquie O’Sullivan, enjoys her family life too much to go back on the road. Keren and Sara met when they were five at a Bristol infants’ school and have become best friends ever since. Even then they had show-biz ambitions. “We would lock the bedroom door and make up songs and dances,” Keren remembers. “All we knew is that we wanted to leave school and get to London as soon as possible!” Keren, a classically trained musician, got a job at the BBC and Sara studied journalism, but they were already singing in clubs and hanging out with musicians and dancers. “It was all about who could wear the most

What advice would the ageless pop superstars give to the new generation of girl bands? outrageous outﬁt,” says Sara. “And the bigger your hair the better! We might have looked as though we were always partying but we weren’t. Even then we were determined to make a life in pop music.” Sara and Keren started Bananarama with their original third member Siobhan Fahey in 1982

and had their ﬁrst hits, Really Saying Something, Cruel Summer and Shy Boy, the following year. “Siobhan left to get married to Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics. But we had also started doing very pop stuff with Stock, Aitken and Waterman and she didn’t want to do that,” Keren says. “We didn’t speak for ages when she left but when we met again there was so much shared good humour and experience that it was like we had never had any problems.” Sara says: “From the beginning we wrote our own stuff and used to support our friends in bands and people like Iggy Pop. We always styled ourselves — we didn’t have retouching in those days.” A string of hit singles and albums followed — Robert De Niro’s Waiting and Cruel Summer were included in the

movie Karate Kid. “Robert De Niro phoned us once when he was in London and we went out with him to a nightclub,” Sara remembers. “They were wonderful days we got hits in America, travelled all over the world and met amazing people. In fact we still do all those things so there’s nothing to complain about!” Keren has lived in Cornwall with former Wham star Andrew Ridgley for the past 20 years. “People have tried to tempt him back on to the pop scene but he just loves the anonymity of the country life. He surfs and plays golf. “We walk the dogs on the beach and go to the pub and no one bothers us. You can be normal if you choose to be. I have always found fame embarrassing and still do. “If Sara and I go to a red carpet event we’re still holding on to each other.” Back on tour do they keep in trim by working out in the gym? “Goodness, no,” says Sara. I’d rather have a life and a glass of wine!” And how do they keep in touch with today’s trends. “I have a 20-year-old daughter and Keren’s son is 25 so we both know what’s going on,” Sara says. “I remember that when the Spice Girls were at the top my daughter Alice said to me:’Were you ever as famous as Victoria?’ and I had to tell her that, yes, I was — I don’t think she believed me.” What advice would the ageless pop superstars give to the new generation of girl bands? “Just follow your hearts,” Sara says. “But don’t be too obstinate because sometimes that’s to your detriment. Maybe you don’t always know best. “But don’t crush your enthusiasm. Have a good time and enjoy every moment. Pop fame and fortune won’t last for ever.” But where Bananarama are concerned , it’s certainly lasting a jolly long time. —Judson Bennett/ Tony James Features

T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 01 3

ETCETERA

Could this teen star be the next big thing in pop?

eens and Temara Melek probably share the same mutual interests. She worships One Direction, loves the crazy sensation Miley Cyrus, and counts Jessie J as one Cy of her major inﬂuences. However, there the are several things you most likely don’t have in common: She lik has ha been tipped as the next big teen pop star — and is working with po a sswarm of big names including, Jonas Westling, the producer beJo hind hin Lady Gaga’s The Fame Monster, ste and Grammy Award winning songwriter Crystal Nicole, who son penned Only Girl (In The World) pe for Rihanna. Melek’s online presence isn’t the M largest, she has over 327,000 Twitlar ter followers and a smaller number on Facebook, compared with, say, Selena Gomez’s 16 million — but Sel that tha hasn’t stopped her building huge hu momentum for her music. Her H debut single, Karma’s Not Pretty, which she co-wrote with Pre The Th Voice USA 2012 winner Cassadee Pope, hasn’t come from sad a h happy place. It chronicles the breakdown of a failed relationship bre and an the knock-on effect of karma, which wh was exactly what fuelled her artful art inspiration. “It’s about an exboyfriend who ﬂirted with my best boy friend, so we both went and confri fronted him together,” she says. fro Despite laying her emotions bare D and an conveying an excessive level of attitude, emotion and vulnerabilatt ity, ity she has refused to disclose the name of her ex, but her underlying na message is clear: “What goes around me comes com around.” A glimpse of the selfexplanatory song title would give the exp impression that this was perhaps im another Taylor Swift heartbreak an

What’s attracting attention is not just her expertise with handling teenagecrazy pop buffs. The Colorado-born, singersongwriter is destined for greatness because, like Swift, Cyrus, and Bieber, she is representing her generation, relaying all the difficulties, frustration, and youth-relationship issues affecting youngsters through her music

record, but although Melek cites the country singer as an inspiration, she has no intentions to follow in her confessional path. “I’m a huge fan of Taylor and how she can really relate to her fans through music. I know she always tends to write about her relationships but I don’t want to be like that, that’s not my thing. People get mad about her dating quite a few guys and then making songs about it, but I’m different. I’m not like that,” she explains. From a very young age, Melek, who had no training or experience as a musician began dancing and singing, before eventually appearing in various Disney ﬁlms and TV commercials. “When I was little I always wanted to be Hannah Montana,” she concedes, “I always wanted to be her. I think that’s where it started.” What’s attracting attention is not just her expertise with handling teenage-crazy pop buffs. No, the Colorado-born, L.A.-based singersongwriter is destined for greatness because, like Swift, Cyrus, and Bieber, she is representing her generation, relaying all the difficulties, frustration, and youth-relationship issues affecting youngsters through her music. There is certainly a pattern surfacing when it comes to young stars in today’s culture. Since shedding her squeaky-clean image, Miley Cyrus has constantly been in the midst of controversy. Just last month, the former Disney princess sent the Internet into meltdown following a divisive performance at the MTV Video Music Awards. “The thing I really like about Miley is how much she has changed, but at the same time she

is doing what she wants to do,” Melek says, in defence to Cyrus’ tongue and antics. “I loved the performance and also her Unicorn video, which I think is awesome. I know a lot of people think she went a bit too far and she did a couple of things that I wouldn’t do, but I loved it. In fact; I wouldn’t mind giving it a go.” And it must be pointed out that, Melek is now on the highway to recognition, brushing shoulders and forming friendships with her fellow class of showbiz peers. But though she has been coming faceto-face with high proﬁle celebrities, she isn’t yet on a par with not being tongue-tied. When asked why so many girls like her are so infatuated with One Direction, she swallows up before admitting. “I love them so much. I’ve met them several times and they are awesome guys.” She also insists they aren’t just eye candy, though. “Although they are very attractive and have awesome personalities, they make really great music.” Handling worldwide awesomeness isn’t easy, and when it comes to the supremacy of the teenage heart-throbs, not many females can obscure their admiration for one member in particular — Harry Styles. “I actually have Harry’s tweets sent directly to my phone,” she says with a grin, “Yeah, I like him, and I love his tweets.” The singer who used to dream of a musical career has now learnt that misfortune is just another tool of the trade. But who knows what the future holds — Tamera Melek may just send her rivals in search of another day job. —Noel Philips/The Independent

T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 3

ETCETERA CELEBRITY NEWS

Aniston thrilled to work in ‘Life of Crime’ ACTRESS Jenifer Aniston is thrilled to work in the new movie Life of Crime and says the script is wonderfully written. “For me, it was just such a different role than those that usually come to me,” the 44-year-old told showbizspy.com. “So I was thrilled and I was honoured and it was riveting and wonderfully written,” she added. Meanwhile, the actress is keen for her beloved white shepherd mix Dolly, which she adopted as a pup in 2006, to star in a movie. “Jen taught Dolly to sit, shake and roll over in a few hours, so she’s convinced Dolly has the talent — she just needs the right training,” said a source. “She even tried to get Dolly cast in her current movie, Squirrels to the Nuts, added the source. The actress and her ﬁance Justin Theroux recently adopted a puppy named Sophie in a bid to replace Aniston’s beloved mutt Norman, who died in 2011.

Abigail Breslin made her name playing a quirky beauty pageant wannabe.

I act like a kid: Miley Cyrus POP STAR Miley Cyrus, 20, says she is an adult who acts like a child. “I was an adult when I was supposed to be a kid. So now I’m an adult and I’m acting like a kid,” Cyrus, who started working at the age of nine, told Harper’s Bazaar. In May 2012, the “Can’t be tamed” singer decided to get married when she accepted Australian actor Liam Hemsworth’s proposal. With their relationship reportedly on the rocks, Cyrus doesn’t say much about the Hunger Games star. “I deﬁnitely don’t have time to deal with a wedding right now. But I will at some point,” she said.

Niall Horan, Zoe reconcile ONE DIRECTION band member Niall Horan has reportedly rekindled his romance with ex-girlfriend Zoe Whelan. Horan ended his brief romance with the Irish model in July and was recently linked to singer Ellie Goulding. But it is said that the singer has secretly reunited with his former love, reports contactmusic.com. “Niall wants everything kept completely under the radar as he feels they simply won’t survive if they’re being watched. But the truth is, he’s mad about her and when he’s in Ireland they’re spending almost every second together,” a source told Heat magazine. Horan had even invited Whelan as his date to his brother Greg’s wedding in March. But the relationship crumbled under the strain of his band’s busy Take Me Home world tour earlier this year. However, Whelan, who is based out in Ireland, has been travelling a lot to meet the singer. —IANS

Now she’s starring in sci-ﬁ ﬁlms, kidnap dramas and family sagas with Meryl Streep

t seems like it was yesterday that a button-cute Abigail Breslin walked up the red carpet at the Oscars, decked in Harry Winston jewels. Nominated for her role as the pageant-loving Olive Hoover in 2006’s Little Miss Sunshine, for the 17-yearold Breslin, it feels like a lifetime ago. “I’m always shocked that people still recognise me from that,” she says, which is understandable. Her hair is blonder now, not the mousey brown pony-tail it was then, while her face has lost that babyish sheen. There have been plenty of roles since — from genre hit Zombieland to the mawkish drama My Sister’s Keeper, with Cameron Diaz — but it’s Little Miss Sunshine that passers-by still stop her for. “It always means a lot to me when people talk about it,” she explains. “I haven’t seen it in a really long time, although I caught a moment of it, on TV once, a year ago. It was so weird for me; so many of the jokes in it had gone over my head when I was young that I now understand!” With three ﬁlms due in the next four months, Breslin is about to prove just how fast she has grown up. What’s more, it’s a hugely diverse body of work. To come is sci-ﬁ blockbuster Ender’s Game, based on the popular novels by the controversial author Orson Scott Card. This is followed by August: Osage County, an Oscar-baiting familial saga in which Breslin co-stars with Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts and Ewan McGregor. Before either comes The Call, a terrifying thriller that blends elements of The Silence of the

Lambs and Buried (in which Ryan Reynolds was trapped inside a coffin). Here it’s Breslin who spends her time in a confined space, after her character Casey is kidnapped from the mall — by Michael Eklund’s psychopath — and placed in the boot of his car, heading towards a grisly fate. Shot mainly in an actual vehicle on the road, “a lot of it was real,” she says. “Actually being in a trunk, pitch black, you can’t see anything. It was scary!” With Casey managing to contact a 911 emergency operator (Halle Berry) in a desperate bid to survive, Breslin’s not exaggerating when she calls it “a super-intense movie”. So imagine how her family — mother Kim, father Michael, a computer programmer, and two older brothers, Spencer and Ryan — all felt. “They all had a hard time watching it. I remember the first time that I saw it, at shine iss Sun Little M rown up has g

a screening, and they came with me. And my whole family were there, watching, and they’d get up and walk out in parts.” As hard as it was for them to watch, for Breslin it was exhausting to shoot. “You’re on such an adrenalin high after that kind of thing — it’s a similar feeling you get when you get off a roller-coaster and you’re jackedup a little bit.” Every night she would have to come home and unwind, watching shows like America’s Next Top Model and What Not to Wear, anything to take her mind off it. “Then I’d go online and look at shoes and clothing and I’d Skype with my puppy and then I’d go to sleep, and I’d be OK.” For one who starred in her first commercial at the age of three, and made her feature debut, in M Night Shyamalan’s Signs, three years later, the New York-born-and-raised actress isn’t the precocious starlet you might expect. Just check out her Twitter account. “If you want to come to my Twitter page for serious insightful updates every minute on my career, you’re not going to find it,” she notes. “You’ll find stuff about me and my friend having a Christmas night in July, and my dogs and my cats and why boys are so complicated.” She could also add the Twilight novels and films to that list of favourite things. “I read it when I was 12 and I was just so in love with Edward, I wanted him and Bella to be together. My cousin and I would read them all the time, and I would sob and get so invested into them, and I’d go to the midnight showings of the films. I

loved that whole movie and story. I saw the first one nine times in theatres.” Now she has what might become her own Twilight in the shape of Ender’s Game, though she’s reluctant to say so – noting how “very different” this futureset tale of kids trained to fight alien creatures is. Still, it has the capacity to become a similar phenomenon, right? She shrugs. “I would never say ‘This is the next Twilight.’ That was so huge, so I don’t think you’ll top it.” Cast as Valentine, Breslin does get scenes with Harrison Ford – though that was nowhere near as intimidating as working on August: Osage County, sharing screen-time with Streep, Roberts and McGregor. “I was completely terrified. I was shaking the first day. I remember the first scene I had with Meryl Streep, I had one line and I was just saying to myself: ‘You can’t mess up this one line. Just say the line, get it out.’ Then I drop all these props, and I’m like: ‘Oh my God, I’m wasting Meryl Streep’s time!’” It’s already being touted as one of the big Oscar contenders — which will mean publicity tours, public appearances and awards shows. She admits this aspect “is a total pressure at times,” but, living in New York rather than LA, has allowed her to keep a distance from the Hollywood circus. “You just have to think: ‘There are more important things going on in the world than a movie.’ So that’s what I think about before I do a red carpet. You just have to keep a perspective.” She really is a Little Miss Sunshine. —James Mottram/The Independent

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 3

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DAILY GUIDE

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We have 2 BHK, 3 BHK in Azaiba, Ghubra, Qurum, Al Khoud. Contact 93782735 Premium office & Flats with A/c’s in Al Khuwair-33. Contact 94268564 2 bedroom ﬂats in Salalah Jadeedah new building for rent on daily or monthly basis. (Fully Furnished) Contact 92760281 2 Bedrooms Flat with 1 family Hall, 1 Bathroom, fully furnished & Open terrace in Al Khuwair. Contact: 98885043/ 96360064 2 & 3 BHK Darsait. Contact 99024730 2 BHK Wadikabir. Contact 99024730

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Fully furnished apartments for Rent in Al-Khuwair and Ghubra. Contact 95113252 or 91138757

Profs for rent. GSM : 98087644

3 BHK Flat Darsait 450/RO. Contact 99358589 / 97079146

Store for rent at Wadi kabir. Contact 99893363 1 and 2 BR Brand New Flats in Azaiba. Contact: 96793675 Store for rent 700m2 Barka Alharam. Contact 95643086 Different sizes of shops in Wadi Al Kabir on main way, near Al Hassan company 300 RO and 400 RO monthly. Contact 93191111 Flat for rent in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99388994.

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T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 3

DAILY GUIDE

FOR SALE

M.V. FOR SALE

Sale of all kind of Household items including medicated double mattresses, furniture’s and Electronic items. # 92370923 / 94205904 Crane, 30Tons for sale. #99209427 Shop for sale at Sohar Falaj Al Qabail. Contact : 99103077 Oil paintings For sale.#99737812 Well running block factory at Musanah for sale or looking partner. Contact 95322478 Complete Aluminum fabrication Machineries, as good as new for sale. # 99489100 / 99294095 8seated sofa set brand new one month old purchased for 800/- RO, now 400/- bed room set, cupboard, AC. Contact 99326339 2 textile running shop Seeb souq main road & 1textile shop in Dhofar building. Contact 99326339 Restaurant for sale in Plaza Hotel Ruwi, opp. Bank Muscat Ruwi high street. Contact 99326339 Coffee shop for sale in Sun City Hotel Ruwi. Contact 99326339 Electrical, building material shop, behind Bank Sohar Ruwi. Contact 99359698 / 92139418 7seater sofa set, Sharp Micro oven. Contact 96282677 Electronics shop for sale at Ruwi. Contact 24786370 GSM 96737199 Fully furnished shop for sale at Ruwi High Street. Contact 96144119 Shop for sale in Wadikabir. Contact 94130140 Restaurant with existing seating capacity of 50 people and potential for 90 people and lots of parking place in prime business location at Wattayah near Bank Muscat & Indian Passport Office (B.L.S) in running condition is available for partnership or sale. Contact 95213273

2 bedroom ﬂat near Muscat private hospital, Bausher. Monthly income OMR 300, OMR 46,000. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 Porta cabin and Container for sale. Contact 99373256 Door with frame for sale. Contact 99208798 / 95643086

ACC. AVAILABLE

Toyota Corolla 1.6 Xli 2009 single owner. Contact 98180493

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Sharing accommodation with attached bath available at behind ISM, Darsait contact 94355675

Porta cabin sale. #96432604 Well running new Coffee shop at Hamariya for sale, with clearance. Contact 93660957 Beauty Parlour for sale# 94062285. Industrial Land for sale at Barkha SAGSOOK 1400 m2 and 14 Nos Shops. # 99229062 / 95977100 For Sale Steel workshop Wadikabir near Al Khaili showroom. #97235996

FOR RENT Shop in Mabailla phase 8 industrial area 36 sqm and cost is 350 RO. Contact 93191111 2 BR, 2 toilet, kitchen at Al Mawaleh. # 99444786 / 99747560 2 showrooms for rent Al Amerat behind Sultan Center. # 97886169 Flat for rent at Qurum heights, ground ﬂoor, 3 bed rooms. Contact 95178930 New villa at Al Khuwair 33/ 6 bed rooms R.O 1000/- Monthly.#99443834

Cochin (Kerala) 2 BHK 822SQ.FT. 9th ﬂoor, South Star Aprt. Cochin Ernakulum South, close to RLY STN and State transport depot, OPP stadium. Price: IRS. 25 LACS. Contact 95816886

Furnished room for Exe bachelor at Rex road. Contact 92873832

Shop for sale in Ghubrah, good location. Contact 99055410

Barber shop for sale Mawaleh with license. Contact 95020852

AVAILABLE

Spacious room with A/C and attach bath for walking lady of executive bachelor in Wadi Kabir (Indian only). Contact 99720561 Single furnished room.#24833609 Acc available in Muttrah behind Oman house. Contact 99354340 Fully furnished Executive bachelor room with all facilities ac, washing etc in Mumtaz, Ruwi- Contact/SMS 99459843 Pent House single room with bathroom and kitchen in Wadi Kabir (RO 150). Contact 93878793 Big two rooms for sharing opposite Al Nahda Hospital. #98725208 Single room for bachelor or lady, opp. Al Nahdha Hospital. # 92563206 Room for rent in Ruwi. 95372192 Furnished room in Al Falaj area with attached balcony & Wadi Kabir for Indian bachelor/Students single. Contact 96761960 Furnished room in CBD area for Executive bachelors free wi-ﬁ, non-cooking, Advance deposit. Contact 95934642

Fully equipped commercial kitchen with camp & storage facilities available at Ghala Industrial area. Interested Parties may # 99024519

BUYING/SELLING We Buy all types of Wooden Scraps. Contact ahastco123@yahoo. com , Ph: 24458759/ 98539316/ 99318152 Good Quality Wooden Kicking blocks available 1.2 mtr & 2.6 mtr length. Contact ahastco123@yahoo. com , Ph: 99318152

GOOD NEWS

House for sale in Aynawaram Chennai G+3, plot for sale Maduranthagam 1200 sq ft, 1.75 lakhs. Contact 99354340 IND 00919840154225 3 bedroom villa for sale kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu. Contact 92893243

WANTED

Thiyya girl, MBA, working in Dubai, Rohini, 27 seeks alliance from BTech/MBA holders working in Oman/Dubai. Contact 97270140

Orthodox parents seeks alliance for daughter, 26/158, B. Tech working in MNC in Muscat from well placed professionals. Email : proposalindia1234@gmail.com

Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis, massage, steam bath, obesity, spondylitis etc. Free consutation, Ideal Care Ayurvedic clinic, Azaiba. Contact 99639695 Genuine Ayurvedic treatments &massage, ayuredic clinic AL Khuwair. Contact 24478618/ 97263637/ 97109295 Ayurvedic treatment for backache paralysis arthritis etc. & massage All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact 24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980

FOR LADIES Tailoring, stitching. Contact 93694035

For sale Lancer 2008 bought 2009 single driver 60000 kms 99636424 Renault Clio well maintained 2006 model Manual Expat driven RO 1750/-. Contact 95764290 Suzuki APV 7 Seater manual well maintained 2010 Expat driven RO 2750/-. Contact 95764290 For Sale Yaris 2006 full Automatic type 2. # 99845155/ 99588572

FOR HIRE

Muslim Parents invite alliance for son, B.Tech doing Business, seek suitable Girl good family background age 21-23 Preferable Hyderabad / Bangalore. Contact 96731961/ Email skmahmed@arspowertech.com Sunni Muslim hand some boy Graduate, 24 years working as a Divisional Manager, well settled seeking Dini Namazi good family for suitable alliance. Contact 92876040

Honda Civic model 2010 fully automatic pearl white, Expat driven. Contact 91275018 2006 Model, Toyota Battery Operated Excellent condition fork Lift suitable for store & rack system. Contact 99371732 Chevrolet Captiva 2008 GCC, 20,0000 KM, 4100/-RO.# 97646282 Toyota Fortuner model 2012, 2.7 LT, km 17000. Contact 99350092 Inﬁniti M375 2011. # 92844996 Dodge Charger 2012. # 92844996

LOST Ahmad Mohammed Dhaher has lost Syrian Passport No. 006847568. Finder please handover to ROP Rabaih Rajab Mohammed Shahata has lost Egyptian Passport No. A08621867. Finder please handover to ROP

MATRIMONIAL

37 Years, Christian widow, 2 kids, working in Medical ﬁeld in Oman, looking for suitable alliance from Christian Orthodox Marthomite Roman Catholic denominations, Preferably working in Muscat. Contact 99838349

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

Toyota Rav4, model 2009. Contact 96120459

Shawarma Kheema Grill Machine. Contact 93014324

Kerala RC boy 31 yrs Draftsman, Muscat from Kottayam Dt seeking suitable alliance. Contact 98157825 or (91) 9946872295

Onam special fresh ﬂowers Jasmine- Marigold & 5 different assorted colors ﬂowers available. Haridas Nensey SupermarketRuwi. Phone 24750784

Subaru Impreza 2001 model for sale. Contact 99055410

Mohammad Al Amin has lost Bangladeshi Passport no. 72004. Finder please handover to ROP Cranes and excavators available on hire. Contact 99209427 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 Crane Trailor Hiab. #99354909 3 & 5 Ton Forklift. #97677133 25/ 50 seater Buses for rent/ leasing with drivers in PDO Speciﬁcation. Contact 99839898

TRANSPORTATION Transportation. Contact 99664703 Transportation available from Ruwi to Ghubra. Call 96402727, 96761960 Transportation available. Contact 95714934 Transportation. Contact 93400744

CHANGE OF NAME I Muslin Ahasan Nisar son of Muslim Abbu Saheb Ahasan presently residing at the following address in Rusayl, P.B. No. 248, PC no. 124, Sultanate Of Oman & having permanent address in India 1/247 Indira Extn. Kushalnagar, Coorg 571234, Karnataka, holder of Passport No. F5601162 date of issue 11.11.2006 place of issue Dubai solemnly affirm and declare that I have changed my name to Nisar Hasan for all purposes. Any objection towards the name change may please be communicated to Embassy of Indian, Muscat, Diplomatic area, Jamiat Al Dowal, Al Arabia Street, Diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, PO Box No.1727, Postal Code112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman.

NOTICE Al Farsi & Al Balushi Trading joint company which is recorded under the commercial register in directorate general for trade industry covrnates Batinah number 3192415 is going to change its name to Nasr Al Farsi Projects Modern Trading joint company. This is to inform anybody who concerns about that.

Transportation. Contact 98178135 Hindu, 35 yrs lady from Mangalore, Working as beautician in Oman, seeks suitable alliance. Contact 95208305 Hindu Handsome boy Kerala Graduate 35 years working at Sales leading Automobile company at Muscat, seeking alliance from any cast or region. Contact 94176397 Email : aajesh98765@gmail.com

Transportation. Contact 96954496 Transportation. Contact98546606 For transport. Contact 92548219 Transportation. Contact 99509283 Car with Graduate experienced driver. Contact +968 98267157

SERVICES MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble.# 24793614/ 99314807 Split & Window AC Servicing & repairing. Contact 99557080 Split & Window A.C Servicing & repairing. Contact 99380307

Transport Pick & Drop. # 97581610 Keralite Hindu 28 yrs Biomedical Technician working in Oman need suitable proposal. CONTACT 99433516 Email: vinojrkrishnan@gmail. com Kerala boy 38 years Chartered Accountant in Sultanate of Oman Hindu Nair seeking suitable alliance. Contact 97133729, E mail : kunjumonaca@gmail.com

Transportation Contact 95570429

SERVICES GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 Door to Door Computers repair specialist laptop software Website cartridges.Contact 99199376

A/C service repairing, Installation, piping AMC maintenance for low prices. Contact 92963132 / 92620740 Marble polishing & crystallization building cleaning ﬂoor, ﬂoor polishing, carpet, sofa shampooing, pest control, anti termite, shifting, maintenance. Contact 99504275 Civil Maintenance, painting, Electrical land scaping. # 96465032

T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 3

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION VACANT

SITUATION WANTED

ADMIN/HR

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

Indian female Graduate - Fresher - Seeking position as HR Assistant, Customer Care. Contact 94469249 or Sabita.fernandes@gmail.com

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

Sri Lankan female 27 years having 7 years experience in administration, customer service with excellent English and computer knowledge seeking suitable placement. Contact 96144390 Indian male 46 years, seeking suitable position in Admin or as Storekeeper. Contact 91385251 Indian female 25 yrs MBA in HR and Marketing and Graduation in Physics having 1year experience in Oman as administration coordinator seeks suitable placement. Contact 98510431 / 97098431 Indian, Male,28 yrs, MBA HR with 8 years experience in core HR/ Specialized in Recruitment in Tier 1 comp, Currently employed in Muscat with Valid Oman DL. Looking for growth opportunity - 95951127

ADMIN Required for a leading international company in the ﬁeld of IT located in Ruwi, CBD Area, a female employee (Administrative Secretary) holding a diploma in IT and familiar with public relations and staying in Wilayat Muttrah. CVs to be sent to the email: anismaimani@gmail.com

DRIVER

Reputed Construction Company required Accountant experience in Construction Company with accountancy degree. Email: jvacancy05@gmail.com

ARCHITECT / INTERIOR DECORATOR Required for Consultant Managing Director 15 yrs Arch & STR Eng 10 years. Email meceng111@hotmail.com

BEAUTY Exclusive Ladies SPA & Saloon in Salalah has an opening for female Operation Executive exp. min. 3 yrs, energetic & independent to operate. Guest relationship & strong knowledge in ERP. Send CV info@ezrahlife.com Required General Beautician, Indian Nationality with local release for beauty parlour at Al Ghubrah. Contact 95134495 / 95622129 Required urgently experienced Beautician. Contact 99467033

CATERING Required one House Cook for Capital area. Contact 24493666/ 99228454 Urgently required North Indian part time cook in mutrah. Contact – 99100314

DOMESTIC HELP Required Housemaid Pilipino full time. Contact 98563312 Malayali Housemaid required for Indian (Keralite) family in Muscat. Full time for ONE (1) month (October) only. Contact immediately: 98988678”. Pakistani Family living at Ghubrah south is looking for house maid. Should be resident card holder and familiar with Pakistani cooking. Contact 99101958 / 93575206

DRIVER Urgently wanted one experienced House Driver. Contact 24493666 / 99228454 Urgently required part time female/ Male Driver with 2 – 3 years experience, English/ Arabic speaking, age between 35 to 45 years. Contact 99171138 A petroleum ﬁeld (SAOC) company seeking for light duty driver, holding Oman driving license with commercial and private vehicle with 2-3 years experience. Fax: 24485908 Email: said_maqsha@gmail.com

Wanted Driver. Call - 24170076 / 98936716. Send resume: tthrteam@gmail.com. Car Driver personal. Contact 96694954

DOMESTIC HELP Part-time housemaid (Tamil/Malayalam) required in the afternoon, near Star cinema, Ruwi. Contact after 5 pm - 99682680, 92934990

DESIGNER Graphic designer with Arabic & English knowledge for a printing press. Contact 99244470 Email excelpress1@gmail.com

EDUCATION Wanted Mathematics lecturers with PhD and 5 years of college teaching exp for immediate Joining. Very good salary package offered. Interested candidates send you CV to trainingjobsoman@gmail.com Wanted Computer Teachers for Eastern Pearl Private School, Darsait. Contact 92923349

ENGINEERS/TECH A reputed Engineering Contracting Company requires Project Manager (Piping) for Oil&Gas ﬁeld. BE (Mech),min 12 yrs exp in managing cross country pipelines, industrial piping etc. Thorough knowledge on HSE, QA and Environmental systems essential. Mail detailed CV to:- recruitbmen@gmail.com Civil Site Supervisor / Coordinator, diploma holder with 2-3 years experience in site metal fabrication /erection projects. Valid Oman D/L preferable. Contact 99102383 Email: hr@khancogroup.com

MEDICAL Wanted Pilipino Dental Nurse or General Nurse for Dental Polyclinic in Muscat (Preferable with MOH License). Contact 94351050 Omani Staff Wanted : A reputed hospital in Muscat urgently needs Omani HR Manager, Reception Staff, Nursing Assistants, Technicians, Security, Drivers for immediate recruitment. Please send your CV to vacancyahh@gmail.com we will call you. Required Pharmacist/Assist. Pharmacist with MOH license for a pharmacy in capital area. saif695@yahoo.com

Shatti Al Qurum Medical Center is looking to employ qualiﬁed and registered nurses (Dentist hygienist and Gyno). If interested, please send your qualiﬁcations and experience to: hr71mb@hotmail.com Tel: 93655425 A licensed dentist is needed to rent a running dental clinic in Sohar (next to Sohar university). Contact 95603395 Wanted Ophthalmologist (DO), Staff Nurses (female) with MOH license for a polyclinic. Excellent Salary package. Contact 99006915 Email alhinaee. clinic@yahoo.com Required Asst. Pharmacist with MOH License for a pharmacy in capital area. GSM: 92820570

MISC Looking for men (2) with “full experience” to run the laundry shop in Mawaleh South. Priority applicants and who wish to run the shop on contract basis; not salary basis. Knowledge of English and Arabic languages + Computer Use skill required. Contact 9722 1304 Required an Arabic spoken office boy from Kerala. Contact 92345861

SALES / MARKETING Urgently required a Leading Insurance Brokers is looking for experienced “Marketing Executive’’. Send your CV to hr.fpis@gmail.com Required Sr. Sales Executive : Candidate should have minimum 5 years experience in ready-mix concrete Industry or special building material with excellent contact with consultant & contractors. Candidate should have sound marketing & sales exposure with valid Oman driving license. Suitable candidates may send their C.V to: Email: sabrm@omantel.nrt.om Required Sales Coordinator : Candidate should have 3-4 years experience in concrete industry should have a good ﬂair in sales & marketing. Suitable candidates may send their C.V to: Email: sabrm@omantel.nrt.om Required Storekeeper: Candidate should have minimum 3-4 years experience to handle spare parts of heavy vehicle with computer knowledge. Suitable candidates may send their C.V to: Email: sabrm@omantel.nrt.om Wanted Outdoor Sales Executive with D/L and helper, for importer and Wholesaler Company, dealing with sanitary ware in Muscat. Please post your CV to under mentioned email address. Contact 97443656 Email: gulfsanitary@yahoo.com

SALES / MARKETING Required a Sales Executive for building materials trading company. In Oman experience minimum 1 year. Preferred only with Driving license. Send CV to dubairus123@gmail.com Looking for efficient Sales Executives with experience. Omani driving license holders preferred. Fresher can also apply. Email : jobvaciuc@gmail.com Sales Executive - experienced/ fresher in building material /structural steel. Apply to recruitments. muscat@gmail.com Wanted experienced Marketing Executives with (valid Oman D/L) for a leading printing press in Musanah. Contact: Mobile 96557079 alqariyaprintingpress@gmail.com, Marketing company requires Sales Executive salary + incentive, visa available send CV at bdmrightway@gmail.com Contact 95748080 Required Salesman cum Driver with Education certiﬁcate for trading company visa ready. Contact 99250248 A leading oil & Gas company is looking for active Sales Engineer with minimum of 2 years experience technical, sales marketing with valid license. Contact 99061232 / 99853353 Leading construction company requires Quality Assurance (QA) & quality control (QC) Electric Engineer, Personnel. Send CV to : nikunj@uniqueom.com

SIT. WANTED ADMIN/HR Indian female MA, MBA (HR) with 5 yrs GCC exp, presently working as HR Coordinator in groups of company, seeks suitable placement. Contact 93498876 29 Indian female MBA 2 years experience in Accounts and Administration skilled with MS Office, seeking for suitable position. Contact 96962240 Indian male 4 years of HR experience, looking for Admin, Recruitment job. Contact 99489496 HR & Administration officer 15 years experience, looking for a suitable opening. Contact 95893806 Indian Male, 27 years, 5 years’ experience as a Customer/Client relation Manager in MNCs. Seeking suitable posts in Customer relations/ Administration/HR. GSM: 93088407

Male 27, looking for Suitable Position of Finance Officer. 8.5 years of Experience, 3 years in Oman. Contact 99841436

Indian female, MBA( HR & Marketing) B.Tech ( Electronics & Communication) with experience. Contact 96963961

Indian male 39, Accounting professional 15+ years experience in Accounting, Auditing, available for immediate joining. #96675398

Indian Female, having over 5 yrs of experience in Customer Care, Accounts & Administration, seeks suitable placement.#92801607

MEDICAL Expatriate driver for Omani family required, middle aged person with at least 10 years clean Omani D/L. Contact +968-95523416

Senior Accountant seeks part time job. Contact 99013963 / 98803439

Indian female 10 years experience in admin and customer care seeking for a suitable job. Contact 97132322 Email ID: chaisonline@gmail.com

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

Expatriate driver with car for Omani family required to pick & drop children from school, middle aged person with at least 10 years clean Omani D/L. call - +968-95523416

Chief Accountant, 22 yrs. experienced, seeks immediate placement. Contact 95598477 / 99013963

Chartered Accountant with ICWA Inter having 5 years experience in accounts, costing, budgeting, Insurance, treasury & Banking operations - Available for Immediate Joining. Contact : 96596380 Email-ﬁnancecost2@gmail.com

ACCOUNTANCY Urgently required Qualiﬁed & experienced Accountant, IT & Administration, for a Muscat based well known construction company. Email: khalbeeliz@gmail.com Fax 24488057

Indian, B. Com graduate with 9+ years experience, great exposure in Accounting/Administration job(TallyErp9), seeks suitable placement. Omani Driving License, Contact: 96001864

Accountant: Indian male, 10 years experience, 6 years in Oman, with Oman driving license, seeking suitable placement. Contact 97123002 Email venetr@live.com 14 Years exp Accountant Indian male. Contact 971506742791 UAE, 99337624 Oman CA, MBA (Finance) Indian male with 20+ years Oman experience seeks senior position in finance / Accounts in a reputed organization. Contact 99022386. Email: kaz1961_01@yahoo.com Accountant Indian male 2 years experience B.Com, Tally, Peachtree. Contact 93050561, Email rafikatoorans@gmail.com Accountant Indian Male, Having valid Omani driving license age 31, B.Com Graduate with 10 years of computerized Accounting experience in India, UAE & Oman, seeking suitable jobs. Contact +968 94058639 & +968 95704584 Accountant Indian male 13 years exp in Oman reporting up to finalization Payroll, immediate joining, Local release available having Omani D/L. Contact 97331967 B.Com 21 yrs with 1 yrs exp Indian male valid D/L. Contact: 95186796 Accountant M.Com, MBA, with 7 years experience looking for suitable placement. Contact 93029334 Email heams.merlin@gmail.com Indian male Accountant with 7 years experience (Expert in Tally ERP-9) seeks suitable placement. Contact 94251297 Email : milan.muscat@gmail.com Jordanian Senior Accountant 11 Years Experience, Worked In Constructions, Tourism Company and Poly Clinic, Experience in Tally Erp9.Contact 96470036 Indian female MBA (finance) working with reputed company in Muscat with valid Oman D/L seeking for suitable placement in finance / accounts. Contact 97197683 Indian male, 25 years, MBAFinance Graduate, 1 year experience with computer knowledge, on the lookout for suitable openings in Oman. Contact 93870465 and email : fahadhv@yahoo.com . Indian male B.Com Tally with 8 months experience in Accounting is looking for Accounts Assistant job. Contact 94103460 Muslim Chartered Accountant and M.Com, 12 Years of Experience, At present in UAE, seeking good Job in Accounts, Finance, Audit etc. # 00971 50 9607654, 00968 9985 7838, E mail : chishtiaca@yahoo.com Indian male 25 yrs B Com Accountant having experienced of 3 years looking for a good placement Contact 97803996

Charted 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 Part time Accounts /Audit service. Contact 97104365 / 92418779 (call after 5P.M). ACCA Member, Graduate (UK), 24 yrs male, 3 yrs experience, tally ERP -9, quick book & MS Office looking for suitable placement. #97268263 Part time Accountant with 15 yrs experience in Accounts Finance Audit & tax management. #95857199 Finance Accounts Indian male B.Com MBA 31 years, Exp 6 years. Contact 93257426 / 92365310, Email : sibigeorgep@gmail.com Finance Controller 15+ years versatile experience in Oman, seeks immediate openings#92439941 Indian male, 27 yrs Accounts 4 years experience in Oman, seeks similar position. Contact 93770862 Email badarkkb@gmail.com Indian male, 27 yrs Sales Executive 4 years experience in Oman, with valid Oman driving license, seeks similar position. Contact 91161698 Email badarkkb@gmail.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 ACCA finance professional 5 years experience including 1 yr in Oman experience, looking for suitable placement. Contact 95174220 5 years experienced M.Com Accountant looking for part time job. Contact 94109930 Chartered Accountant, Indian female 25 years, with good Knowledge and experience in Finance, Accounts, Audits, immediate joining. Contact 92530131 / 24785757 Email : muflihak@gmail.com Indian female 33 years 5 years experience in Muthoot Finance Ltd, Now on visit visa, seeks suitable jobs. Contact 96214105 Email bijibinu2003@gmail.com Indian male M.Com, Finance having 7 + yrs experience in Oman, Finalization, Audit, AR/ AP, Payroll with valid Oman D/L, seeks senior level position. Contact 93088436 Indian male 34 B.Com Senior Accountant 10 years experience (8 years in Oman) valid Omani driving license, seeks suitable placement ready to join immediately. # 91101645 Chief Accountant, 22 yrs. experienced, seeks immediate placement. Contact 95598477 / 99013963 Senior Accountant seeks part time job. Contact 99013963 / 98803439 Female 33, Indian B.Com looking for suitable placement as back office support. Contact 95256416

T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 3

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Part time accounts / audit services. Gsm 99761216 Male Accountant MBA, ICMAP (finalist) 6.5 years experience in finance, accounting, payroll, audit, administration, ERP,SAP,TALLY, seeking for good opportunity Email: faisalsaeedrana@hotmail.com Faisal Saeed : 97268088 Part time Accountant / Internal Auditor computerized and Manual Accounts, Driving own car. Accounts up to finalization. Contact Kumar 96414305 Accounts works up to finalization on part-time / fulltime. #96247295 Accountant, Indian, with Qatar experience in Accounts, seeks suitable position in Muscat as an accounts Executive. Contact 94460349, E mail : jithutourism@gmail.com Indian male 28 Chartered Accountant, looking for suitable placement in Finance and Audit department. Email ubaiskeeran@gmail.com Contact 96357827 M.COM, ACMA (ICWA) 35yrs, 12 yrs exp (2 yrs in Oman with valid D/L) in finance, costing, budgeting & business plan, accounts finalization, advanced excel presently at US MNC Chennai, India interested to relocate to Oman. # 91-9789900628 Email: costmanagement2012@yahoo.com Indian male Accountant B.Com 4 years exp in India prof in Tally ERP9 seeks suitable placement currently on visit visa. Contact 91377681 house Manager and Accountant, NOC available & can join immediately seeks suitable placement. Contact 92203972 Indian Male, MBA ( Finance) with 5 years experience as Senior Analyst at reputed company in India, Seeks job in Finance or Accounts. # 91378950 Email ms.sharief@gmail.com Chartered Accountant Young Indian female 25 years with Good knowledge and experience in Finance, Accounts and Audit of large corporate, available for immediate joining. Contact 92530131/ 24785757 Email muflihak@gmail.com Chartered Accountant, with B.Sc Accountancy (special) degree, more than seven years of experience, looking for a position in accounts, finance or auditing department. Contact 93957919 Indian female 35 B.Com with 5 years experience & driving license, seeks suitable placement. #95871492 Male, Indian 26 yrs Accountant 4 yrs in Oman. Contact 95960600 Mumbai Born, male-24, PGPM + MBA (Finance) with one year experience as a financial analyst in India. seeks job in finance. Tel: 98711999 email: sharancherian@gmail.co

ARCH/ INTERIOR Indian female B.Arch 1.7 years of work experience in India, seeking a suitable placement in Oman Muscat. Contact 94373984 Email shrutishetty115@gmail.com Artist Masters of ﬁne Arts having 20 years experience of all kinds of Arts and decoration works in Oman, looking for suitable placement. Contact 92635029 Iraqi Architect 22 years experience. Contact 97608513

CATERING Indian male BSc Hotel Management with 10 yrs experience and Oman D/L, seeking suitable replacement. Contact 95066454

DOMESTIC HELP Srilankan Maid available, part time hard working, trustworthy good with Children & Animals, Cooking. Contact 98024739 Housemaid looking for part time job, good English experience. Contact 98024739 Housemaid looking for part-time/ full time job. Contact 93889545

DRIVERS Light driver. Contact 95387829 20 Yrs Exp Light Duty Driver. Contact 91210747

DRIVERS

ENGG. / TECHNICAL

7 months Driving experience in Oman having D/L, seeking for suitable placement also, have 3 years 7 months driving license in Kuwait. Contact 94256123

B.Sc in Civil Engineer 4 years experience in Oman and D/L, seeks suitable job. Contact 98475572 Email kkholifa@yahoo.com Indian BE ( E & C) Engineer 5 months experience in maintenance & troubleshooting of PLC / PID/ VFD/ PG Diploma in industrial Automation, well versed in PLC/SCADA/ DCS, 22 years in Oman, seeking placement. Contact 99345911

Male 29, looking job for light driving having good driving experience in company in Oman, like Nawras mobile etc. Contact 96914164 / 97304221 Indian male L/D Driver. #93078481

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Driver 6 years exp with car, have valid Oman driving license with AutoCAD knowledge. NOC available. Contact 95962384 Light Duty Driver more than 10 years experienced in Capital and interior areas of Oman well versed with every nook and corner of Oman looking for a placement. Knows English, Hindi, Malayalam and Tamil can speak and understand Arabic. Contact 99771205

Bio-medical Engineer (B-Tech), 3 years experience in India, on visit visa seeks suitable placement. Contact : 92163918, saviojose111@gmail.com

Office Driver with car. #95615642

27 Years, male presently working as a Site Engineer (BE Mechanical) having 4 years experience in Erection & Fabrication of steel structures, seeking a suitable placement in Oman. Contact 93370241 Email: binuprofessional@gmail.com

Indian male 24 yrs, looking for driver job, heavy duty 1year experience in Oman. Contact 92473490 Email kuttushaju@gmail.com

Indian male 27 years, 3 years experience in Refrigeration ﬁeld with valid Driving license, seeking for suitable job. Contact 91273654

47 years Indian Heavy Driver 16 years experience in Oman, looking for suitable placement. Contact 93842371 / 99389268

Degree Civil Engineer, 7 years experience in UAE, having valid UAE driving licence,currently available in visit visa. Phone: 93321785

Light Driver. Contact 97020205

Indian female,25yrs,B.tech Electronics & Communication Engineering Graduate with one year experience as Specialist Operations in an MNC BPO and with Optical Fiber Communication Engineering Certiﬁcation from BSNL seeks suitable placement. Contact:98637434 Email:sasasha88@gmail.com

Experience Light duty Driver. Contact 95592452 Heavy Duty Driver with Oman license, now on visit visa in Oman, experience 4 years Oman. #92775607

DESIGNER 3D Visualizers / designer having 2 D & 3 D experience in Oman, knowledge of interior & exterior, seeking for good place part time or fulltime, having Omani D/License. Contact 95268877 AutoCAD 2D, 3D Technician 3 years exp with Oman driving license, NOC available. Contact 95962384 Indian female, 25yrs Bsc-FASHION DESIGNING, 3yers experience in designing ﬁeld and teaching. looking for a sutable placement. Contact: 98785310. Email: vinaya.m.nair@gmail.com Indian male B.Com 30 years 5 years experience in UAE, looking for Graphic designer job, visit visa. Contact 97166820

DRAUGHTSMAN

B.Sc in Civil Engineer, 6 years experience in Construction ﬁeld in UAE Dubai, having UAE driving license, seeking suitable placement. Contact 97125780 Mechanical Technician 36 yrs Indian male 9 yrs Gulf experience 3 yrs in Oman with D/L, seeking suitable placement. Contact 96287511 Email maheshlazer@gmail.com Sudanese B.Sc Mechanical Engineer MBA holder 4 years experience, Thermal Electricity power plants combined cycle. # 95816951 Mechanical Engineer western educated 25 year old Male looking for suitable placement with valid Omani driving license. Email aziz.qaiser@gmail.com MD. Hasan Habib Diploma in Electrical having 8 years experience (3 years in Oman MEP). # 95881358 Email habib.eng98@gmail.com

BSc Interior designer with 6 years in Mumbai and 2 years in Oman, seeking a suitable job for Site Co ordination. Contact +968 95796137

Indian Female Electrical Engr, 4years experience in application engineering/ projects/ technical coordination -93770649

AutoCAD Draughtsman Gulf Experienced Ph: 98310977

B.E Electrical 5 years experience with 2 years in Gulf in building division having valid driving license seeks suitable placement. Contact 98846208 / 92906092

Autocad d/man, gulf exp, exp in Arch, interior, structural, 3D, PH : 96722150 Electrical D/man, experienced, on visit visa. Contact :96516924

Male Computer Technician Diploma in applied 4 years exp Electronics & computer maintenance, language English, Arabic seeking suitable placement. #92501456

EDUCATION 26 Years Indian female BA. B.Ed & MSW degree holder applying for Teaching & office administration post. Contact 94162888 Email sreelakshmi.kuttysree@gmail.com Indian female, BSc B.ED, fresher looking for a teacher’s job for secondary section from 5th to 8th for all subjects. # 97645135 / 93023379

ENGG. / TECHNICAL A BE Civil, 26 yrs male, with 4+ yrs of exp and having an ongoing exp in oil & gas with all HSE trainings, inductions and having defensive driving license is looking for urgent placement# 93525766 Telecom Engineer 4 years experience in all Huawei equipment MW& BTS of site survey maintenance. Contact 94462554 Mechanical Engineer with 3 years experience in Sales & Marketing in India and having valid Omani driving license looking for suitable opening. Contact 96596482. Indian male Biotechnology Engineer recently passed looking for a suitable opening and ready to join any time. Contact 95130163

B. Tech in Electrical & Electronics Indian male 27 years single 4.5 years experience as Electrical quality inspector in reputed heavy industry abroad currently in Muscat placement. Contact 92521239 Email: electricalengineer.sk@gmail.com Q.C. Inspector 25 yrs experience in Chemical and food. #92106143 Mobile Software Technician 2 years exp in Gulf, well known languages Hindi, Arabic & English. Contact 95330129 Computer Engineer (Indian), 21 yrs seeking a suitable job opportunities in Oman, Fresher on visit upto to 5th October. Contact 96306993 8 years experienced Civil Engineering diploma holder 5 years in Civil 3 years in PEB with valid Oman license seeking good opportunities. Contact 97408346 Civil Engineer 1 year Exp as (Design Engineer & Shop Drawing) professional @ AutoCAD ,ETABS, Revit, Robote structural analysis. Contact no : 91381068 Civil Engineer 6 years Exp as (Site Technical office Engineer, QS, Planning engineer & Site Engineer) Professional @ AutoCAD, Sap, P3 & office. Contact no: 91148708

Experienced 12 yrs Gulf 1yr Oman exp. as land surveyor in building / road construction seeks immediate placement. Contact 97850467 Indian male Diploma with 9 years of Instrumentation experience in Automation (SCADA, PLC &DCS) based Industry, seeking a suitable placement. Contact 95868048 Email ar13685@gmail.com Project Engineer Micro tunneling sewerage Network with 18 years experience infrastructure with good skill also having valid Omani D/L, seeking suitable placement. Contact +968 94220778 / Email abidhusaindesai@yahoo.com Indian Keralite 33 years male ITI Electrician, 13 years exp, 5 years Gulf experience able to handle fire alarm AVS PS system and Plumbing with valid Oman D/L looking for suitable placement in Muscat area. Contact 93367545 Mechanical Engineer western educated, 25 years, male looking for suitable placement with valid Omani driving license. #99624582 Email aziz.qaiser@gmail.com Indian Civil Engineer (BE & Diploma) with 2.5 years experience in Oman, 6 years in India with valid Omani Driving license, looking for suitable placement on release. Contact 91229885 B-Tech Mechanical Fresh Engineer Indian male Presently in Oman, looking for suitable vacancy completed PDMS course. Contact +968 96332565 / +968 95786556 Email: ashiq.ptni@gmail.com BE Mechanical Engineer, also completed advance diploma in Oil & Gas, seeking suitable job. #93056016 Email: mail2dayjustin@yahoo.com B.Tech Electronics and Instrumentation Indian male with 2 year experience and valid Omani driving license, seeking suitable placement. Contact 95127955 Email shemeerkmohd@yahoo.com Diploma-in- Civil Engineer, 4 years experience in Sultanate of Oman also having Omani driving license. GSM : +968 98899738, E-mail: hfiroz301009@yahoo.com Electrical Engineer, Indian, Female, with 10 years experience, 4 years in consultancy firms in UAE seeks suitable job in Muscat. Mob: 91279796 Indian male B Tech Chemical Engineer, looking for suitable placement in Oman urgently. Email sarellayeshwanth@gmail.com/ vanabalaji@gmail.com Indian Male, B.E. in Electrical & Electronics Engg with valid CCNA certificate and 6 yrs experience in BMS, project management & maintenance seeks suitable placement. Currently in India. Pls call Muscat contact No. 99639375 Indian Civil Project Engineer with 10+years Gulf exp, suitable for Project works/ QS works, Omani D/L, seeking a suitable position. Contact 93476959 Purchase / procurement officer, Gulf exp, exp in MEP Products. Contact 93243846 B.Sc Engineer (Civil), 5 Yrs experience with good construction skill, looking for suitable placement. Mobile: 93247929, Email: maislam03@hotmail.com Indian Male 35 yrs, Instrumentation Engineer, DEI, NTC, NAC, ATI-EPI. 14 yrs of Instrumentation Exp. in the field of Sales, Construction, Commissioning & Maintenance with Reputed Co’s in Oman, UAE, Qatar & India. Have Indian D/L, and Oman L/L. Seeking suitable Job, #93376354, Email: samuel.ndia@gmail.com M.Sc Agriculture / Horticulture Sudanese Female looking for suitable job. Contact: 95498223 Mechanical Engineer Indian male having 10 years GCC experience in HVAC & MEP with valid Omani D/L, seeks suitable job in a reputed company. Contact 96093552

ENGG. / TECHNICAL MEP Supervisor exp 15 years, HT, LT (exper.) with D/L, dp maintenance. Contact 96297274 Indian female, B-Tech Civil Engg, 3 years (6 months in Oman) experience in QS, Estimation, Cost control & planning, seeks suitable job. Contact 92047375 Email vinujosephcm@gmail.com

INFORMATION TECH. IT Professional, 32, Indian Male, Graduate, CCNA, MCSA, Sun Solaris SA1, 9years of exp. in Hardware Networking,Wintel/Linux/Unix Servers, Data Centre Administration & Service of Printers/MFP & Copier, Now on Visit Visa looking for the suitable post. #98327017 Email-jsrbharat@gmail.com 10 Years of Technical presales experience, Graduate from University of Huddersﬁeld UK, previous experience of working with ZTE, looking for job. Contact 91379396 IT professional, Indian male Gradate, CCNA, CCNP, MCITP Exchange server 2010 with 1year experience now on visit visa seeking for suitable placement. # 99392339 Email: fayiskottikollath@hotmail.com B.Tech Information Technology male with 1 year of Oman experience currently working on SAP ERP, SQL server with one of the reputed company, looking for a suitable job. Contact 91057689, Email dennis.dave89@gmail.com Indian male 26 yrs, Graduate with CCNA, CCNP, MCSE and MCITP, Exchange server 2003 & 2013, 4.7 yrs experience in Networking, presently on visit visa. Contact 96157622 Indian male 33 years, with more than 10 years experience in hardware and networking specialization in network administration. Router conﬁgurations hands on experience in troubleshooting hardware networks & software related problems looking for suitable placement now on visit. Contact 96206320

MEDICAL Pharmacist with MOH license need job. Contact 98217100

MISCELLANEOUS 29,Indian, female, NEBOSH IGC, PG in Marketing, BSC & MSC Microbiology, 1.5 years experience, looking for suitable placement. #95117139 22 yrs old Pakistani female looking out for a job. Contact 97019570 sadaf.j.khattak@gmail.com 27 Years Male, MBA Supply Chain Management requires position in Warehouse, procurement, distribution, logistics, import/ export, production department. #93619846 LAND SERVEY, having 1 year exp. in Total Station, auto level, theodalite, on visit visa, 97249473 Indian Male, experience in Store/Operation//Logistic/Coordinator having good communication skills, seeking suitable change. #94355675 Indian (M) with 11 yrs exp. (7-India & 4-Dubai) in Sales & Office support with Omani D/L need a job in Oman. Call 98267793

SALES / MARKETING A dynamic Sales & Mkt professional with 9 years of experience currently situated in Muscat, looking for suitable position.#95304232 Indian male 2 years exp in Oman, looking for job as Marketing Executive in Van or mini truck.#96148903 An Indian having rich Gulf experience in Sales Marketing ( in House) Procurement Admin, seeking suitable placement at Senior level. Contact parthinath123@gmail.com / Contact 93689602 Indian male MBA 6 years experience in IT Sales business development and training staff in telemarketing and customer service in Oman on visit. Contact 91380575 Indian male MBA Sales & Marketing, 7 years of experience holding Oman D/L, looking for a suitable position in the same.#95475833 Indian male 24 MBA 2 yrs exp in Marketing on visiting visa. Contact 97138676 Email haris.hameedali@gmail.com

Staff Nurse with MOH license, available immediately. Contact 98278741 / 99433415

Pakistani 28 yrs male Business Development Executive MBA (Marketing) ACCA (process) having 4 yrs experience in Oman and good Contacts throughout the market. Contact 97899811

Arabic Dentist with MOH License looking for suitable Placement, contact 91138009

Indian male B.A 7 years experience in Financial product Marketing Sales, looking for job. #96194656

Male Nurse with MOH license and ACLS seeks placement. #93262628 Email: robitjohn@gmail.com

Indian male 6 years experience in Sales & Marketing, Looking for job. Contact 96108700

Indian female 23, M.SC Bio Chemistry with experience in teaching and clinical lab work looking suitable placement in teaching/ laboratory technologist/ chemist. Email: ktkarthika22@gmail.com, contact 97200435

Female European 31 yrs, Bachelor of Accounts, 13 yrs of Exp. as Showroom/Front Office Manager (Fashion Accessories/Jewellery)/Ofﬁce Secretary (Educational Consultancy). Can speak, write, and read English, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Hindi and Telugu. Seeking suitable Job, Contact: 93376354, Email: samuel.ndia@gmail.com

M.Sc Biotechnology Clinical Research Clinical Data management IPR 4 Years experience. Contact 92136290 Email ebinabraham@gmail.com Indian male Nurse with MOH License, 1 year experience from Oman as company Nurse is Looking for a job, now on visit visa. #93645954

MANAGER/ SUPER Sr. Project Manager Indian National With 18 yr Experience In managing Civil Construction Business Seek Opening in reputed Civil Company ready to join immediately contact-92685422 or pmsindia2007@gmail.com

Worked as Sales Supervisor for 3 years having valid Omani driving license 5 years Sales experience in Oman. Contact 94009447 Indian male 5 yrs exp in Sales & Marketing in Oman with Oman D/L. Contact 95460860 / 95891953 Email mohammed.shufaf@gmail. com India female, 26, MBA, experience in media marketing and market research, looking for suitable opportunities in Communication/PR/ Branding, Valid D/L. Contact details: greycentral86@gmail.com

PROJECTS Commercial Manager (Contracts Specialist ) in Construction in Muscat till 30th September seeks placement 92829562 email: forwork283@gmail.com Indian total exp18 years with 10 years Gulf exp as a services center in charge in electronics & Gulf driving License, seeks suitable placement in Oman. Contact 96527926 Purchaser/Procurement: Indian* *Male,10* years experience as Purchaser/Procurement Head in a construction comp. D/L. Contact No:92501871 Business Development Manager with 6 yrs experience in Oil & Gas, Business development, Sales & Marketing with Oman D/L, seeks a suitable placement. Contact 92961826 Email waseemprod@gmail.com

Looking for HSE Advisor job. Qualiﬁcation NEBOSH IGC and OSHA education masters in Geosciences age 28 years. Contact 93835938

SKILLED / UNSKILLED Pakistani Male on visit visa looking for job as any Helper/Office Boy Contact:- 99002390

TOURS & TRAVEL B.Sc Indian male 5.5 yrs exp Airline /Travels, Diploma in Travels. Contact 97099386 Indian Male, PG in tourism, 23 years, seek suitable job in travel & tourism. Available for immediate joining .ph 92409102 , akhilantony0303@yahoo.com

T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 3

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED CARGO

TOURS

WEBSITE

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

CLASSES

RENT A CAR

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

COMPUTER BUSINESS MANPOWER Manpower supply maintenance & civil work contracting. Contact 98425389 Housemaid, male / female cleaner, driver, light and heavy gulf valid D/L, house boy, & skilled and unskilled categories, form Srilanka, India. Contact Mr jerry 95175192 Email: oman.manpower@yahoo.com

BUSINESS

Learn Baking Cakes & Icing Decoration, sugarcraft, creative water falls & Handicraft classes. Contact 96761960 Learn Drawing & painting for children. (MBD area Ruwi) Contact 99737812

BUSINESS CANADIAN company .for immigration & manpower is looking for a partner in Oman with license !For contact evro21@gmail.com 0097333054453 Looking for Omani partner for business development services. Contact 93194825 Email: edumass4@gmail.com

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

Morning Star Rent A car. Contact 94475478 / 24478505/ 24478589

T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 9, 2 0 1 3

DAILY GUIDE

DINING DELIGHTS