T30 11 2013 by Sahir Vayappat

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RYAN GIGGS: 40 AND GOING STRONG Ryan Giggs was the ﬁrst graduate off the so-called ‘Class of ‘92’ to make his mark ark at Manchester United and on the day he turned 40 he was preparing for the weekend d the same way he has for most of his life. >A12

SATURDAY, November 30, 2013 / 26 MUHARRAM 1435 AH

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Jebel Akhdhar — where the mountains smile

A3 CELESTIAL PHENOMENON

Comet ISON ‘perishes’ while grazing surface of the sun WASHINGTON: Comet ISON appears to have ﬂown too close to the surface of the sun on Thursday and vanished as it circled the ﬁery surface, astronomers said. The large block of ice and rock had been expected to skim just 730,000 miles above the sun’s surface around 1830 GMT. It was estimated that ISON would undergo temperatures of 4,900 degrees Fahrenheit and lose three million tonnes of its mass per second as it made its journey around the sun.Most astronomers had predicted that ISON would not survive the trip. Several solar observatories watched the comet during its closest approach to the sun, known as perihelion. And the comet became faint while still within view of Nasa’s Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory, and the joint European Space Agency and Nasa’s Solar and Heliospheric Observatory. Nasa’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, however, could not see the comet. “It does seem that comet ISON probably has not survived its journey,” Naval Research Laboratory comet scientist Karl Battams said after looking at space images. “I am not seeing anything that emerges from behind the solar disk and that I think could be the nail in the coffin,” he told a roundtable organised by the US space agency Nasa. Phil Plait of the Bad Astronomy blog agreed, saying he had a “strong suspicion that ISON may be an ex-comet.” Carey Lisse, a senior research scientist at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, compared the comet to a “loose snow ball,” a rather weak and easily broken up with half or a third of its mass coming from water. ISON is also about half the size of an average comet, with an estimated

China sends jets to monitor US, Japan aircraft ‘Several combat aircraft were scrambled to verify the identities’ of US and Japanese aircraft entering the air defence zone (ADIZ), the official Xinhua news agency said

FLYPAST: Comet ISON (bottom) moves towards the sun in this

image from ESA/Nasa’s Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) captured on Thursday. The composite image shows the sun in the centre and the solar atmosphere, the corona. -AFP

maximum diameter of 0.75 miles. ISON has galvanised astronomers since its discovery by a Russian team in September 2012 because it traces its origins to the start of the solar system some 4.5 billion years ago. Several million years ago, ISON escaped from the Oort cloud, a grouping of debris halfway between the sun and the next closest star. “This is a very dynamic situation. We have never seen a comet like this coming from the Oort cloud and going in the sun grazing orbit,” said Battams. Lisse called it a “dinosaur bone”

of the solar system’s formation, stressing the key role of comets in building planets. Extreme interest “This particular comet is of extreme interest to us,” Nasa planetary science director James Green said, explaining that it is rare to ﬁnd comets that come from so far away in the solar system. Because ISON was detected from far in the solar system, astronomers had time to observe it. They found that the core of the comet was surrounded by a cloud of carbon dioxide. -AFP

BEIJING: China yesterday scrambled fighter jets to monitor a dozen US and Japanese military aircraft which entered its new air defence zone, state media said. Beijing’s announcement last weekend of the air defence identification zone, which covers islands at the centre of a dispute between China and Japan, has raised tensions in the region. The report indicated that Japan and the US are continuing to disregard Beijing’s demands that aircraft submit flight plans when traversing the zone in the East China Sea or face unspecified “defensive emergency measures”. “Several combat aircraft were scrambled to verify the identities” of US and Japanese aircraft entering the air defence zone (ADIZ), the official Xinhua news

If Tokyo flies its aircraft over the zone, we will be bound to send our plane to its ADIZ...We are willing to engage in a protracted confrontation with Japan

agency said, quoting air force spokesman Shen Jinke. The Chinese aircraft, which included at least two ﬁghter jets, identiﬁed two US surveillance aircraft and 10 Japanese aircraft including an F-15 warplane, Shen said. The US, South Korea, Japan and other countries have accused Beijing of increasing regional

tensions with its new air defence zone. Shen said the air force had a mission to monitor foreign aircraft inside the zone “throughout the entire process, with timely identification”. Japan and South Korea both said on Thursday they had disregarded the air defence zone, showing a united front after US B-52 bombers also entered the area. But Beijing is facing considerable internal pressure to assert itself. China’s state media called for “timely countermeasures without hesitation” if Japan violates the zone. Washington has security alliances with both Tokyo and Seoul, and analysts say that neither China nor Japan — the world’s second- and third-biggest economies, and major trading partners of each other — want to engage in armed conflict. The Global Times newspaper, which generally takes a more nationalistic tone than China’s government, said in an editorial: “We should carry out timely countermeasures without hesitation against Japan when it challenges China’s newly declared ADIZ. “If Tokyo flies its aircraft over the zone, we will be bound to send our plane to its ADIZ.” The paper, which is close to the ruling Communist party, said: “We are willing to engage in a protracted confrontation with Japan.” But it shied away from threatening Washington, which sent giant Stratofortress bombers inside the zone, issuing an unmistakable message. -AFP

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

PAKISTAN

Raheel takes over as Pakistan army chief

General Raheel Sharif took over as the head of Pakistan’s army, the most powerful position in the nation which is battling Taleban insurgency. >A7

WORLD

Thai protestors storm army headquarters

Deﬁant Thai opposition protestors stormed the army headquarters and besieged Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s party offices yesterday. >A9

MARKET

Indian economy posts surprise 4.8% growth

India posted fasterthan-expected quarterly economic growth of 4.8 per cent yesterday, boosted by robust farm output. >B1

ENVOYSPEAK:

PICTURE PERFECT Oblivious of the sylvan surroundings, a kid in a playful mood is busy making drawings on the Azaiba beach while the sea waves sweep aside all his creations. Times of Oman photographer O. K. Mohammed Ali captured this absorbing duel during the National Day holidays.

Greta C Holtz US Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman The Omani business road show, the Sultanate’s ﬁrst in the United States, built business partnerships and opened investment opportunities. We toured US companies specialising in the transport, logistics, healthcare, and tourism sectors. And, most importantly, we generated many promising business leads. Read the column on Sunday

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OMAN H E A LT H C A R E I N I T I AT I V E

National Centre to boost ﬁght against genetic disorders Times News Service MUSCAT: The campaign to combat genetic illnesses and disorders in Oman took a big step forward, with the formal opening of the National Genetic Centre. As part of the centre’s goal of treating patients, it has been acquiring modern medical equipment, some of which has been funded by Oman LNG. The centre, the only one in the Sultanate, will assist in the further understanding, treatment and participating in the continuing global push in search of cures for diseas-

es, such as cancer and leukaemia. Experts note that while genetic illnesses and diseases could be hereditary or environmentally induced, one of the ways identiﬁed as spreading these disorders is through marriage. “Every population has genetic disorders, so they are not peculiar to Oman,” said Salma Al Harassi, laboratory expert at the newly inaugurated centre. “However, one of the main ways for propagating these disorders have been found to be through consanguineous marriages and, in our country, 45% to 54% of marriages are familial.”

Fitted with diagnostic equipment, the centre will support already-existing medical facilities, such as the Royal Hospital, in treating diseases, providing follow-up for cases, and supporting investigative molecular research to determine the most effective treatment and handling of paediatric cases involving newborns having hereditary illnesses. Funding from Oman LNG has enabled the facility to acquire critical equipment, such as a genetic analyser for its cytogenetic laboratory when studying heredity and components of human cells.

“The genetic analyser helps us determine the number of cells affected by the disorder and those that remain unaffected, and we understand, based on this molecular analysis, the next steps to take in tackling the illness,” said Al Harassi about the device. Other equipment supplied by the company to aid medical research and treatment include a motorised microscope and a polymerase chain reaction workstation that allows the study of DNA fragmentation for diagnostic or research purposes, among others. “We are proud of this moment,

where we see another milestone which translates His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s vision for better healthcare. Our role has been to complement the country’s healthcare infrastructure with cutting-edge equipment and supplement it with aid for enhanced training. Oman LNG is happy to play a role in supporting this new centre as it delivers value to people by addressing some of the challenges Oman and, indeed, the world are facing in ﬁnding a cure to genetic diseases and look forward to breakthrough research, treatment and cure for people who

will use this centre,” said Nasser Al Kindi, Oman LNG’s Acting Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, while speaking before the official opening of the medical facility. The launching of the National Genetic Centre also included a number of seminars that focused on genetic testing around the world and the application of evidence-based information to medical genetics, which was presented by speakers from around the world. The inauguration was held under the auspices of Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sa’eedi, Minister of Health.

‘People expect me to be funny 24/7’

UNITED FOR CHARITY

Kapil Sharma is basking in the glory of SOCCER FOR A CAUSE: The charity match raised money and created awareness about testicular and

other cancers afflicting men. – Supplied photo

success on the small screen, so bestowing

TAISM leads cancer crusade

the ‘funniest man’ crown on him is no exaggeration

STAFF REPORTER MUSCAT: The American International School of Muscat (TAISM) high school football team recently challenged a team of teachers in a charity match to raise money and awareness about testicular and other male cancers. Men from countries around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA, grow moustaches in the month of November, also known as ‘Movember,’ to raise awareness about cancers that affect men.

In addition to the football match, the students sold shirts and snacks, and people paid to have moustaches drawn on their faces while watching the game. “I’ve been involved with it before in different countries, so we started it last year with TAISM. We do a charity event and combine it with some sport and some fun at the same time,” explained organiser Mark Evans. The proceeds of TAISM’s events will be donated to the Movember Foundation, which is an international organisation

that helps fund cancer research. In addition to raising money, the events also raise awareness among students, Evans added. “It’s important because it promotes awareness of the problem and draws attention to it,” added Heriberto Souza, the captain of the high school team, which won the match ﬁve goals to two. In addition to participating in Movember events, TAISM also participates in the annual Terry Fox Run, which also raises money for cancer.

STAFF REPORTER MUSCAT: Making people laugh is no child’s play, and who else but the King of Comedy, Kapil Sharma, can vouch for it? Sharma’s Comedy Nights with Kapil, inspired from the popular British show The Kumar’s at No.42. Bitto, has become India’s highest rated nonﬁction TV show. His journey from nobody, to India’s favourite comedian, is an inspiration for many. His show started with a bang with yesteryear star Dharmendra and, since then, Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Ajay Devgan, Priyanka Chopra, Vidya Balan, Irrfan Khan, Hrithik Roshan, and Shahid Kapoor are a few names, among the Bollywood biggies who have been perplexed by the near perfect one-liners delivered in his show. Speaking to Times of Oman, Kapil Sharma was candid about his rags to riches story, his real life persona and his future plans. From being a stand-up comedian at Great Indian Laughter Challenge to playing different characters in Comedy Circus season, and now being a producer, actor, and scriptwriter in Comedy Nights with Kapil, how has the journey been so far? The journey has been good so far. I had started with regional channels. Before that, I worked in theatres for some 10-12 years. I did not get any money for that. But, I used to think that this is my investment. I am reaping the beneﬁts of several years of struggle and hard work. I gave myself time to bring about improvements in my performance. I tried in Laughter Challenge. First, I was rejected, and then I was declared the winner in the same show. When I see my work down the years, I feel that I have improved a lot, as you also tend to learn from yourself when you work continuously. After I was declared the winner in Laughter Challenge, I received offers to work with several other shows, such as Comedy Circus, Ustadon

The journey has been good so far. I had started with regional channels. Before that I worked in theatres for some 10-12 years. I did not get any money for that. But, I used to think that this is my investment Kapil Sharma Comedy artiste

Ke Ustad, Punjabi Chak De, and others. Working in those shows, I knew what my strengths and weaknesses were. I was able to understand that my forte is live interaction with the audience. Then, I zeroed in on adding such elements in my show that would bring a good response. I started Comedy Nights with Kapil with good intentions and God showered his blessings and it turned out to be a hit. Our show’s TRP is a 4.5 rating, which is the highest TRP in India and the 2nd highest TRP rated show is Kaun Banega Crorepati, as Amitabh Bachchan’s show has a 2.3 rating. Whenever people meet you, they expect you to be funny at all times. Is it difficult to maintain this image? Yes, it happens. For example, if I am waiting to catch a ﬂight they expect me to be as funny as they see me being funny on television. They request me to tell a joke or entertain them. Don’t I make them laugh on the television enough? So, yes, it happens with me all the time. You had participated in the music reality show Star Ya Rockstar. Are you thinking of pursuing a career in music, also? I have offers from one or two big music companies. But the problem is, when I wanted to become a singer, I didn’t get a chance. Now, when I am going strong in my show and I have a dearth of time, now I am getting offers.

In the future, if something good turns up, I will definitely go for it. But just for the sake of doing an album, I won’t do it. Sometime back, Shekhar Suman also did an album. Seeing him performing in an album, I thought that if he can sing, why can’t I? I am fond of singing, so I will definitely do something. What is the most amusing thing that anyone has ever told you? There are many incidences or things that people say to me. But I can’t recollect anything in particular, as of now. My mother is very funny. Whenever I go to my hometown, Amritsar, or she comes to Mumbai, she tells many funny things which make me laugh. What are your future plans? My future plan is to do live shows on Comedy Nights with Kapil at London, Australia and Canada. We will start shooting episodes there. Till now, there are no reality TV shows that have been shot out of the country, maybe some fiction shows, but not reality TV shows. When we went to perform in Sydney, I saw that the amphitheatre was filled, but still people were waiting outside. So, when I requested the organisers to let those people in, they said that we did not have any more tickets. I told them let them come inside; if they have come to see the show, they should receive an entry. Those people gave me their blessings. So, I really felt good at that time.

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OMAN

TALKING PHOTO

Where the mountains smile...

ebel Akhdhar is one of the few places in Oman where there is a hint of four seasons, and currently there is a hint of autumn on

the mountains as some leaves are turning golden and the afternoon temperature is a crisp 13°. Sarah MacDonald recently ventured up the mountains and returned with her collection of majestic views from the top. Just a two-hour drive from Muscat, Jebel Akhdhar is an ideal destination for a short break. The winding road up the mountain, which is only accessible by a four-wheel drive, the vistas and the terraced farming villages that drape along the sides of the mountains make the visit most worthwhile, whether it’s winter, spring, summer…or autumn. .

Photography: Sarah MacDonald

S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 30, 2 0 1 3

REGION

Egypt police fire tear gas at Mursi loyalists Interim President Adly Mansour issued the ban last Sunday and police have since enforced it, sometimes bloodily

CAIRO: Police ﬁred tear gas at supporters of deposed president Mohamed Mursi who demonstrated in Egypt yesterday, defying a new law banning unauthorised protests that has also angered the rival group following the arrest of a prominent blogger. Despite the law, the Muslim Brotherhood had vowed to go ahead with the protests it has organised after weekly prayers ever since Mursi was overthrown by the military on July 3. Warned On Thursday, the interior ministry warned against unauthorised protests, after police arrested

CLASHES: Riot police take up positions during clashes with stu-

dents of Cairo University, supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Mursi around the Qubba Palace in Cairo, yesterday. – Reuters

prominent blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah in a stark declaration of intent reminiscent of the autocratic rule of long-time president Hosni Mubarak, ousted in a popular uprising nearly three years ago. Police used tear gas against hundreds of Mursi’s supporters who protested in front of a presidential palace in Cairo. Gunshots were also reported.

Tear gas was also ﬁred at dozens of Islamists in the capital’s Mohandessin district and on a key road leading to the pyramids. Protesters retaliated by throwing stones and burning tyres in Mohandessin, officials said, adding that similar protests were also dispersed in the cities of Alexandria, Suez, Mahallah and Qena. A senior police officer said at

least 60 people were arrested during the clashes. The law requires organisers to apply for permission three days ahead of any proposed demonstration, which could be denied if it is deemed to threaten national security. Demonstrations at places of worship, or starting from them, are banned outright. On Thursday, the interior ministry warned against “demonstrations that break the law without obtaining prior permission from security forces” and said “it will deal with these illegal activities ﬁrmly and decisively.” Interim president Adly Mansour issued the ban last Sunday and police have since enforced it, sometimes bloodily. On Thursday, an engineering student was killed during an Islamist demonstration at Cairo University, health officials said. To the anger of secular supporters of Mursi’s overthrow, police have taken action against all demonstrations, not just those organised by the ousted president’s backers. Activists say the ban is hypocritical as the army justiﬁed the ouster as a response to mass demonstrations across the country against Mursi’s turbulent single year in power. - AFP

BRIEFS

51 dead in sectarian bloodshed in Iraq BAGHDAD: Authorities yesterday found the bodies of 28 people, most of them kidnapped by men in army uniforms, and attacks killed 23 more, in scenes harking back to Iraq’s sectarian war. The killings come amid a surge in violence that has seen victims snatched from their homes, only for their corpses to be found later, fuelling fears Iraq is slipping back into the worst of the bloodshed that plagued it from 2005 to 2007. More than 6,000 people have been killed this year, forcing Baghdad to appeal for international help in battling militancy just months before a general election.

‘Gang’ attacks opposition headquarters in Tunis TUNIS: “A gang” of around 60 people attacked the headquarters of a coalition of political parties opposed to Tunisia’s ruling Islamists in Tunis yesterday, the opposition group announced. “A paid gang tried to attack the headquarters of the Popular Front. There was no damage and our colleagues are ﬁne... The cowards ﬂed” when confronted by members of the leftist coalition, the group said on its official Facebook page. It said 10 of its members managed to repulse “around 60” assailants, although Tunisian media said police intervened to stop the attack, with some people injured.

Sudan health workers killed in Darfur: UN KHARTOUM: Two Sudanese health ministry workers helping to vaccinate children in the Darfur region have been killed, the United Nations said yesterday, condemning the incident. The victims, a vaccinator and a driver, were part of a team inoculating vulnerable children against measles in West Darfur state, Ali Al Za’tari, the UN’s chief in Sudan, said in a statement. It did not say exactly how they died, or when. - Agencies

WA R - T O R N

Syria army pounds rebel holdouts DAMASCUS: Syrian government forces bombarded one of two remaining rebel holdouts in the strategic Qalamoun region yesterday, a day after taking a key town in the area north of Damascus. Troops are trying to encircle rebels near Damascus, pushing to capture the Qalamoun region and sever rebel supply lines across the border with Lebanon. Government soldiers bombed parts of the town of Nabak, one of two rebel holdouts in the region. The town of 55,000, including a Christian minority, lies 80km north of Damascus, and an NGO said troops backed by Hezbollah had moved in on Thursday night. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the army was shelling rebel positions that had halted its advance. The army has “apparently decided to use overwhelming force,” Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said. Advance The advance into Nabuk comes a day after the army secured the nearby town of Deir Attiya, and follows its recapture of the strategic town of Qara, which led to thousands of refugees ﬂooding into neighbouring Lebanon. A Syrian security source said the army had only Nabuk, nearby Yabroud and a handful of surrounding villages left to capture

Qalamoun has been a key rear-base for the rebels, who have used the mountainous region to store arms and as a transit point for fighters TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION: A general view shows buildings damaged

by what activists said was shelling by forces loyal to Syria’s President Bashar Al Assad in Deir Al Zor, eastern Syria, yesterday. - Reuters

before securing the Qalamoun region completely. “If this town is captured, all we’ll have left is Yabroud and some other villages to completely block off the border with Lebanon and to stop any entrance or exit of rebels into Lebanon,” the source said. “The next phase will be to retake the south (of Syria). The north and the east are for later,” he added, referring to areas under the control of the rebels or of Kurdish militia. The string of towns, which the army has gradually recaptured in a southward sweep towards Damascus, lie along the strategically important Damascus-Homs

highway. The highway has been blocked by the fighting, preventing the delivery of fuel to Damascus from the Homs refinery and causing shortages in the capital. Qalamoun has been a key rearbase for the rebels, who have used the mountainous region to store arms and as a transit point for fighters. The army’s operations in Qalamoun, as well as an attack against the rebel stronghold of Eastern Ghouta outside the capital, have been bolstered by outside support. Both Hezbollah group and the Abul Fadl Al Abbas Brigade are fighting alongside the regime. According to the Observatory,

Hezbollah has lost some 17 ﬁghters and the Abbas Brigade another 11 in the operations last week. Peace talks The ﬁghting comes as the international community pushes the Syrian regime and opposition to come to the table for peace talks in Geneva on January 22. The Syrian regime has said it will attend the talks, but insists that President Bashar Al Assad’s departure from office will not be on the table. The key Syrian opposition National Coalition has welcomed the setting of the date as “very positive” but insists Assad can have no role in Syria’s future. -AFP

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INDIA S PAC E M I S S I O N

Orbiter readies to leave geo orbit on journey to Mars BANGALORE: India’s Orbiter to Mars prepares to part with mother earth soon after today midnight and begin its long journey to the distant red planet coasting through the cosmos for almost 10 months, a scientist said yesterday. “The Orbiter is steadily climbing towards its last apogee (farthest from earth) pass in the early hours (04.06am) Saturday and sling into the sun’s orbit at 01.12 am tomorrow after we ﬁre its liquid engine at 12.49am for the trans-Mars injection,” a senior space scientist said. After circling for the last time in its ﬁnal geo orbit, the craft will escape earth’s gravitation to begin its 680-million km voyage tomorrow for its rendezvous with the red planet in September 2014.

“We are going to burn the liquid engine for nearly 23 minutes to impart an incremental velocity (speed) of 648 metres per second to the Orbiter, which will consume 198kg fuel on board the spacecraft,” said state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) scientiﬁc secretary V. Koteshwar Rao. Mid-course corrections Isro’s Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (Istrac) in the city will give commands in advance for the slingshot to catapult the Orbiter into the heli-centric phase from the geo-centric phase to begin its inter-planetary space odyssey towards Mars. “We will make sure that we keep the Orbiter on-course by carrying

India will become the first Asian country and fourth nation in the world to leap into the interplanetary space with its Rs45 billion exploratory mission to Mars, about 400 million km from earth

mid-course corrections during its heliocentric phase,” Rao said. India will become the ﬁrst Asian country and fourth nation in the world to leap into the interplane-

tary space with its Rs45 billion exploratory mission to Mars, about 400 million km from earth. The 1,337kg Orbiter was launched on November 5 from

‘In Rajasthan, no wave in favour of any party’ Balloting will take place in 199

It is difficult to predict who will win... It will be a close contest with BJP and Congress rebels as well as NPP and BSP

constituencies under heavy security tomorrow. The votes will be counted on December 8, along with Delhi, Chhattisgarh and MP WOOING VOTERS: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot during an

election campaign for the upcoming Assembly elections in Jodhpur, yesterday. – PTI

JAIPUR: The ruling Congress and long-time rival BJP are locked in a bitter ﬁght for power in Rajasthan, the country’s largest state where some 40 million are eligible to vote tomorrow to elect a new 200-seat legislature. After ﬁve years of Congress rule, the BJP, revitalised by an aggressive prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, is determined to return to power in Rajasthan, one of its bastions. Balloting will take place in 199 constituencies under heavy security tomorrow. Polling has been postponed in Churu to December 13 following the death of a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate. The Congress and the BJP are contesting all the seats. The newly formed National Peoples Party (NPP) has candidates in 150 constituencies, and the BSP is in the race in over 100 seats. Strategy A total of 2,087 candidates are in the fray. There will be over 47,000 polling booths across the sprawling state. The votes will be count-

ed on December 8 — along with Delhi, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Rajasthan along with Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and undivided Madhya Pradesh have been the foremost strongholds of the BJP and its predecessor, the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. “Our strategy has been to showcase the failures of the Congress government in Rajasthan and the UPA government’s failure to control food prices,” Arun Chaturvedi, BJP’s vice president and its candidate from Civil Lines area in Jaipur, said. The Congress says people have not forgotten the poor showing of the BJP government led by Vasundhara Raje, who is the chief ministerial candidate yet again, causing some heartburn within her party. “The Congress will return to power with a thumping majority,” Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said. “The BJP failed to perform as the opposition in Rajasthan for ﬁve long years. Vasundharaji was on four-year tour of London, Delhi and Dehradun and was rarely seen in Rajasthan. Then, for votes, she

undertook a tour of Rajasthan. Do you think voters don’t know who is doing what?” Gehlot asks. Gehlot and others on both sides make no effort to hide the bitter rivalry that has always marked Congress-BJP battles in the desert state. Erase party Holding Congress responsible of making the life of common man painful, Narendra Modi yesterday asked people to erase that party from the political map of the country. “...if the country has to be kept united, Congress should be removed from the political map. Congress’ departure will be the real tribute to Mahatama Gandhi,” Modi said. Accusing Congress of betraying the downtrodden sections, he challenged its claims of working for the welfare of the poor and said, “Congress leaders just humiliate the poor and do nothing for them... “They enjoy talking about the poor, but do not take interest in their uplift,” he said at BJP rallies

Ravi Goswami Analyst

in Sumerpur (Pali), Jaisalmer and Jodhpur, the home turf of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. The leading candidates are Gehlot, Vasundhara Raje, state Congress president Chandrabhan, Gujjar leader Prahlad Gunjal and Meena community leader Kirori Lal Meena. Although the BSP won six seats in 2008, all its legislators crossed over to the Congress. The Congress talks about the development Rajasthan has seen in the past ﬁve years, including the supply of free medicines to the poor. The BJP contests the claims, saying the state suffers from nongovernance and corruption. Political analysts have their ﬁngers crossed on the possible outcome. “There does not seem to be any undercurrent in favour of any party. So it is difficult to predict who will win,” says analyst Ravi Goswami. “But it will be a close contest with BJP and Congress rebels as well as the NPP and BSP in the fray,” he said. In the outgoing house, the Congress holds 102 seats and the BJP 79. - IANS

Sriharikota spaceport off the Bay of Bengal, about 80km north east of Chennai, aboard a 350-tonne rocket with ﬁve scientiﬁc instruments to detect methane in the Martian atmosphere, measure the thermal emission and capture images of the red planet from its orbit at a distance of 500 km. “The trans-injection exercise is a complex combination of navigation and propulsion technologies, governed by the gravity of sun and Mars,” Rao noted. As the fourth planet from sun and behind earth, Mars is the second smallest celestial body in the solar system. Named after the Roman deity of war, it is also known as red planet due to the presence of iron oxide in abundance, giving

it a reddish appearance. Though earth and Mars have equal period of revolution around their axis, the red planet takes 24 hours and 37 minutes to complete a revolution. Earth takes around 365 days to orbit the sun and Mars 687 days. Once the Orbiter is placed in the Martian orbit, about 500 km from its surface, its ﬁve indigenous instruments onboard will commence their scientiﬁc observations. - IANS

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S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 30, 2 0 1 3

INDIA Tejpal reaches Goa, gets interim bail BJP dismisses Tejpal’s allegation as ‘baseless’

The founding editor of Tehelka, accused of assaulting a woman reporter, got a minor relief when a local court gave him interim protection from arrest till 10am today

IN TROUBLE: Tarun Tejpal, the founder and editor-in-chief of magazine Tehelka, speaks with the media upon his arrival at the airport on his way to Goa, in New Delhi, yesterday. – Reuters

PANAJI: On a day of high drama and action, Tarun Tejpal, accused of sexually assaulting a woman reporter in Tehelka, yesterday got a minor relief when a local court gave him interim protection from arrest till 10am today. Dodging a combined team of Goa and Delhi police that visited his house in Delhi at the crack of dawn to arrest him, Tejpal landed in Panaji around the time District and Sessions judge Anuja Prabhudesai gave him the reprieve till today morning. The judge, who had issued nonbailable warrants to Goa and Delhi Police for his arrest earlier in the morning, later stayed his arrest till 2.30pm on an anticipatory bail application moved by Tejpal’s lawyers.

During arguments on the bail application in the post-lunch session, Tejpal’s lawyer Geeta Luthra contended that he was a man of high integrity and reputation and that the CCTV footage of the hotel will exonerate him. The complaint from the victim, who was seen normal even after the alleged incident, came 10 days after the said episode, she argued. After securing the relief, Tejpal, the founding editor of the weekly where the victim was working as the journalist and was allegedly assaulted in ﬁve star hotel lift earlier this month, left Delhi by a 2.30 pm ﬂight, accompanied by his wife Geetan Batra, other family members and lawyers. Before boarding the aircraft, Tej-

pal said he was going to Goa as he has got summons from the police. Television journalists on board the same ﬂight milled around an unwilling Tejpal for comments that the air crew reportedly threatened to make an emergency landing in some other destination. Protests Tejpal faced some protests and black ﬂag demonstrations by BJP’s youth wing activists as he left the Dabolim airport amidst tight security. Luthra said Tejpal was a free man but would be joining investigations whenever the investigating officer calls him. He has come to Goa to join the probe, she said. During arguments, Luthra twice took the name of the victim to

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) yesterday termed as “baseless” the charge of former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal that the main opposition and its government in Goa is targeting him and insisted it is a case of the pot calling the kettle black. “We deny the charges made

which the public prosecutor took strong exception. The judge sternly told the lawyer this was not right on her part to name the victim. “You know the law is strict on it,” the judge said. Luthra said none of the charges of rape, outraging the modesty of a woman and custodial rape have been made out against him. She said strange procedures have been adopted in the case. “I fear that there is some political hand in it resulting in tainted investigation.” She said Tejpal stood for human rights. He has ruffled many feathers within own community and also political leaders because of which he is not getting opportunity to have any say.

by Tarun Tejpal. These are baseless allegations. Goa police is doing its job meticulously. Reiterated its stand “An unscrupulous person who committed rape is levelling charges against us. We will not accept this lie after lie from him,” BJP spokesperson

When the judge asked whether the allegations against him were politically motivated, the lawyer refused to say they were political. Luthra said the allegations were post facto — almost eleven days after the alleged incident. “My client is a person of great integrity and reputation. For three years Tehelka was persecuted. It is easy to get him into disrepute, the credibility (has been) created over 50 years. My client was created many enemies. His sting operations had even forced the defence minister to resign”. The lawyer said Tejpal was not asked to join investigation even days after the FIR was ﬁled. “I was waiting for intimation. I ﬁled transit bail only after the girl was

Prakash Javadekar said. BJP reiterated its stand that this is a test case for the amended rape law and that the law should take its course. “This is a case of sexual harassment by a boss of his junior. This is a case of rape. The case is serious as a boss has done this to his junior,” Javadekar said. - PTI

examined by Goa police.” She said summons were sent through Goa Sadan. They were served in the absence of an adult male member. “Police are carrying out media trial. If this can happen to such a person what can happen to ordinary person.” Luthra urged for private viewing of CCTV footage inside and outside the lift. “No criminality happened, no offence happened. No criminality has happened.” She contended that the entire two day CCTV footage of the girl should be viewed to check whether she was really “hysterical and distraught”. The public prosecutor will present the prosecution arguments when the court resumes hearing today. - PTI

DEMANDING CBI PROBE Members of Left parties shout slogans during a protest over Sarada Chit Fund scam and other issues in Kolkata, yesterday. They were demanding a CBI probe into the scam and return of money to the depositors. -PTI

W O M A N L AW I N T E R N

Shocked, shattered by allegations of harassment, says former judge NEW DELHI: Denying any sexual harassment of a young woman law intern, former Supreme Court judge Justice A K Ganguly yesterday said he was “shocked and shattered” by the charges against him. “I am denying everything. I have told the committee that all the allegations levelled by the intern are wrong. I don’t know how such allegations have been levelled against me,” he said. He was giving his reaction after an apex court official released a statement that Justice Ganguly had recorded his statement before a three-judge committee that went into the intern’s allegations and has submitted its report to the Chief Justice of India. The apex court official statement said Justice Ganguly had recorded his statement to the three-judge committee headed by Justice R. M. Lodha. Charges totally wrong “I totally deny the allegations. I am a victim of situations,” he told television channels. “I am not ashamed of anything,” he said in reply to a question in regard to the alleged episode which came out in public domain after the intern spoke about in a legal portal earlier this month. He said the charges against him

I totally deny the allegations. I am a victim of situations A. K. Ganguly Former Supreme Court judge

were totally wrong. The girl had not raised any sexual harassment issue with him, he said, adding that he had not done any physical harm to her. The former judge said the intern worked with him though she was not officially allocated to him. She came in the place of another intern who had gone abroad after marriage. “I never put up a poster. She came on her own.” He said the girl had come to his house on a number of occasions in connection with the work. Asked about the charge that he had asked her to come to a hotel room, Justice Ganguly said he was in Delhi at that point of time in connection with work and she was also in Delhi.

“I know what she has said. The question is that when I was in Delhi she was also in Delhi. She came on her own to my...,” he said. “If anybody feels (sic) uncomfortable to work with me she was free to leave,” he said, adding that there was inconsistency that she has respect for him and there was no rancour. He said that the intern was like his child and he treated her that way. Asked if he was worried whether the three-judge committee will pass strictures against him, he said, “I don’t know what kind of strictures will be there.” To another question if he felt that the committee could have preconceived notions about him, he said,”I am not saying anything.” Asked whether the allegations have cast a shadow on him, he said, he has faith in people and the people will judge him by his “conduct” and by his judicial work. Justice Ganguly, who demitted office on February 12 last year, said that if this trend continues it will be difficult for the upright judges to continue to work. “I have worked with several interns in my life, a large number of them and I treat them like my children. They are all well placed in several places in their lives and nobody has made such allegations. I am shocked and shattered.” -PTI

S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 3 0, 2 01 3

PAKISTAN Raheel takes over as army chief credit for resisting the temptation to meddle overtly in politics. His command saw Pakistan’s ﬁrst ever transition of power from one democractically elected government to another at May’s general election. When he conﬁrmed his retirement last month he stressed that the armed forces “fully support and want to strengthen” democracy.

General Sharif, a veteran infantry commander, was little known outside military circles before his promotion to army chief, but analysts say he is a dedicated soldier with little interest in politics

ISLAMABAD: General Raheel Sharif yesterday formally took over as the head of Pakistan’s army, the most powerful position in the nation which is battling a homegrown Taleban insurgency. Sharif, named chief of the army staff on Wednesday, took charge from predecessor General Ashfaq Kayani at a ceremony at military headquarters in Rawalpindi. He takes over as head of the nucleararmed state’s 600,000-strong army with a daunting array of challenges ahead of him. The country is struggling with

CHANGE OF GUARD CEREMONY: Pakistan’s newly appointed army chief General Raheel Sharif, right,

and outgoing army chief General Ashfaq Kayani, left, take part in a change of command ceremony at army headquarters in Rawalpindi, yesterday. – Reuters

the Taleban campaign which has claimed thousands of lives, vexed relations with India and the winding-down of the 12-year Nato mission in neighbouring Afghanistan. Sharif, a veteran infantry commander, was little known outside military circles before his promotion to army chief, but analysts say

he is a dedicated soldier with little interest in politics. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif passed over two more senior generals to appoint his namesake, who is no relation, and will be hoping to avoid a repeat of events the last time he named an army chief — General Pervez Musharraf over-

WA R O N T E R R O R I S M

US drone strike kills three ‘insurgents’ in Miranshah PESHAWAR: A US drone strike targeting a militant compound killed at least three suspected insurgents in a restive Pakistani tribal region near the Afghan border yesterday, officials said. The strike took place in the Anghar area, 10km south of Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan tribal region, a stronghold for Taleban and Al Qaeda linked militants. “A US drone fired two missiles on a militant compound, killing three suspected militants and wounding two others,” a senior security official said. The identities of those killed in the strike were not immediately known but they appeared to be of Central Asian origin, the official said. A third security official in Miranshah said two Taleban fighters were wounded in the fresh attack and were identified as “Punjabi Taleban”, from Pakistan’s central Punjab province. Linked with attacks “One of them, Aslam alias Yaseen, is linked with attacks on Pakistan army headquarters in Rawalpindi and another attack on (the) naval base in Karachi,” the security official said. In May 2011, a group of heavily armed militants besieged Pakistan’s naval air base in Karachi, destroying two US-made P-3C Orion surveillance aircraft, an attack that took 17 hours to repel and left 10 military personnel dead. That assault deeply embarrassed the military, coming three weeks after US special forces killed Osama bin Laden under their noses in a garrison town, and was the deadliest on a base since the army headquarters was attacked in October 2009. Last week a US drone attack on a seminary linked to the feared Haqqani militant network in Hangu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in the northwest killed at least six people. -AFP

PROTEST AGAINST DRONE STRIKE: Supporters of Pakistan’s

banned group Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) carry banners and shout anti-US slogans during a protest against US drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal region, in Peshawar, yesterday. – AFP

With his cover blown, the US is likely to recall CIA station chief LAHORE / ISLAMABAD: The United States is likely to withdraw the current CIA station chief in Islamabad after his cover was blown when Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) named him in a ﬁrst information report registered against the recent drone strike in Hangu district. As part of its understanding with Pakistan, the CIA station chief works undercover. Although it was not possible to verify PTI’s claim, sources told The Express Tribune that the US is increasingly worried about the new development and is considering recalling its top spy from the country. This is the second time a CIA station chief’s identity has been given away. Back in 2010, a human rights

lawyer, who was spearheading a movement against drone strikes, had also ﬁled a lawsuit against the then CIA station chief. However, a Pakistani security official insisted that the agency had nothing to do with the latest move by PTI. When contacted, the US Embassy spokesperson refused to comment on the development. The spokesperson did, however, say that the situation would become clear in a few days. The station chief in Islamabad has a key role in the drone campaign CIA is carrying out in the tribal areas. The party of cricketerturned politician, Imran Khan, has been a staunch opponent of the CIA-piloted drone campaign in the tribal areas. - In exclusive arrangement with The Express Tribune

threw him in a coup in 1999. Pakistan has seen three coups and been ruled for more than half its 66-year history by the military. The armed forces still retain a powerful inﬂuence. Departing commander Kayani has served as army chief since 2007 and has been given much

‘Biggest sacrifice’ His tenure has been marked by the bloody fight against the Pakistani Taleban, who have killed thousands in their battle against the state. Many of the dead have been soldiers, killed and sometimes even beheaded by militants in clashes in the country’s lawless northwest. In his valedictory speech yesterday, Kayani paid tribute to the soldiers who had died fighting what he called the “internal threat”. “The biggest sacrifice is that of one’s life and the army has always been ready to lay down their lives for the country throughout history,” he said. “There is no place in any part of the country where there is no tomb of our martyrs, but in the last decade there has been a rapid increase in the number of these tombs.” Under Kayani’s command the army mounted successful offensives to wrest control of Swat district, in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and South

Waziristan tribal district from militants. But his tenure has also had its low points — the military was humiliated by the 2011 US special forces raid to kill Osama bin Laden on the doorstep of its elite academy. The military’s own bases have come under attack as never before, including an October 2009 militant siege of army headquarters in Rawalpindi in which 23 people were killed. The Taleban recently appointed cleric Maulana Fazlullah as their new chief after his predecessor was killed by a US drone, raising fears of a new and bloody phase of the militants’ insurgency. Yesterday Kayani told the audience of troops and dignitaries in Rawalpindi that he had “kept the interests of the army, the country and the nation above everything” in his command. An editorial in the liberal English-language daily Express Tribune paid tribute to Kayani for his “important role” in steering the army away from politics. “He stands out as the army chief who... ﬁrmly kept his promise of focusing on promoting military professionalism, rather than straying into other domains,” the paper said. - AFP

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S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 30, 2 0 1 3

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General who kept army away from politics

nlike so many of his predecessors, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani goes out at the end of a long tenure with dignity. For the most part, accolades, rather than criticism, come in — and perhaps, this fact alone can help establish a new tradition within the Pkistan military, persuading its leaders to adhere to their professional duties, rather than venturing onto that dangerous minefield of politics, which has over the past decades proven to be the undoing of so many in uniform who have used their immense power for just this purpose. General Kayani, as he bows out after assuming the post of chief of army staff (COAS) in 2007, will perhaps best be remembered for refusing to walk down that road. His role in keeping the military away from politics is an important one. He stands out as the army chief who presided over the first constitutional transfer of civilian power in 2013 and who firmly kept his promise of focusing on promoting military professionalism, rather than straying into other domains. Within the military too, soon after taking over charge of a force he had been commissioned into in 1971, as lieutenant, he focused on improving living and work conditions for the soldiers who stand at the bottom of the army hierarchy, rather than those at the top. This may be linked to his origins as the son of a junior commissioned officer, with little in his background to link him to wealth or power. Given the norms of our society, his rise to COAS under these circumstances is in itself a considerable achievement. This is not to say that General Kayani’s career has not had its low points. While under him, successful military operations were conducted in 2009 in Swat and Malakand, the truth also is that militancy continues to rage on in our country. It has seen, under General Kayani, the worst attacks staged on its own installations — such as that on the GHQ in October 2009. General Kayani’s successor will now continue to deal with these and will hopefully take measures to ensure that such attacks do not happen again. The US action against Osama bin Laden in May 2011 also came as an embarrassment for the army. Repercussions from it linger on. So do those involved in the failure to bring senior army officials to trial for their alleged role in the NLC scam. The continued issue of missing persons, in which human rights groups maintain the army has a big role to play, is another ugly blot. The stain continues to spread even now. During his tenure, General Kayani made some forays into the political stratosphere — but it can be argued the intentions behind them were good. He is believed to have played a role in the 2008 exit of President Pervez Musharraf and also intervened when the ruling PPP and the PML-N came close to a showdown in early 2009 over the issue of restoration of the supreme judiciary. General Kayani’s willingness to keep the military restricted to its constitutional role, avoiding the temptation to use the immense power an army chief wields was, however, notable at both these points and others as well. In this respect, his tenure may have altered the course of Pakistan’s history. - Express Tribune

EYE IN THE SKY

How the drone could be coming to you

DAVID USBORNE

The case for a drab puff

ive months after his government decided – to the frustration of health experts – to shelve the plan to force cigarette firms forgo hi-tech modern packaging in favour of a deliberately consumerunfriendly alternative, it seems David Cameron has changed his mind. When the policy was dropped, in July, it was simply politics. Drably standardised cigarette packaging had too strong a whiff of the nanny state for a prime minister concerned at the mood in his electoral heartlands. Lynton Crosby, the famously robust strategist brought in to give the flagging Tories some pep, was encouraging Cameron to “remove the barnacles from the boat”, and what was once a sensible public health measure became state interference – and was duly dumped. The move immediately fell foul of doctors and health campaigners, who have fought consistently to have it reinstated. But Cameron’s political opponents also made hay, claiming the decision as evidence of Cameron’s closeness to Big Tobacco. That Crosby’s firm – Crosby Textor – had been engaged to help Philip Morris lobby against the proposal only added to the febrile atmosphere. Now, the matter has a different complexion. Again, it is politics that is forcing things. The government has announced that if a review of the pilot scheme that began in Australia in 2011 is found effective, new rules could be in place before 2015. When it comes to cigarette packaging, the decision – notwithstanding its tortuous route – is the right one. Early evidence from Australia indicates that uniform, brown packs leave addicts much more likely to consider kicking the habit. Freedom of choice is fine. But one must know what one is choosing. With cigarettes, dreary boxes and explicit health warnings make that clear. It is a shame about the prime minister’s prevarications. But at least he got it right in the end. - The Independent

Oman’s gift a shot in the arm for Smithsonian This refers to the article, ‘Oman donates $1.8m to Smithsonian Museum’, published in Times of Oman. The largest single donation ever to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art will indeed enable audiences to gain a broader understanding of how African and Omani history and culture shape and enrich the world. The donation, made possible by the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Centre in Washington, D.C., will support a series of programmes celebrating Omani and East African arts, and has been correctly described as “a signiﬁcant milestone” for the museum. The donation is especially signiﬁcant as it comes at a time when the museum is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary next year as

also launch a multiyear series of programming, called ‘Connecting the Gems of the Indian Ocean: From Oman to East Africa’. This will highlight the cross-cultural connections of East and North Africa with those found in the Middle East. It will also showcase the evolution of Omani arts and cultures, the beauty of the arts in Oman and its connections to the East African Coast. Mubarak Mohammad Wadi Kabir

It’s still to be determined what part of the government will ultimately be responsible for (drone) privacy protection.

e know now that this country (USA) is more adept at snooping than protecting privacy rights. But on the whole I can live with the National Security Agency burrowing into my every fibre-optic communication even if it means they’ve rumbled my pug-cam addiction. After all, who wants to live through a 9/11 twice? I did say so far. That awful whirring sound you hear is a tiny drone and soon it will be right above you to check you are not cycling through a red light or sleeping with your neighbour’s wife. Never mind Big Brother; we need to talk about Big Bird. These days, pilotless aircraft aren’t just flying over foreign lands zapping “terrorists”. Michael Huerta, who runs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), predicts that within five years 7,500 drones will be plying America’s airspace. That compares with the 5,000 commercial aircraft in the sky in any usual daytime hour. I saw my first two weeks ago, during a seminar held in a glass-box meeting space a few storeys up. As part of a documentary project a camera-carrying drone hovered throughout outside the windows. Fortunately nothing went awry. But this summer one drone crashed into the side of a skyscraper in Manhattan and hit the deck. Another filming a bull-run in Virginia injured four when it ploughed into a spectator stand. As usual, the feds are playing catch-up. The FAA two weeks ago released what it called a “road map” for agreeing the safety rules for drone flights in America. It will designate six test sites around the country where would-be operators will demonstrate what their flying weasels can do and the FAA can decide what those rules should be, like keeping them away from real aircraft. It promises to have it done by September 2015. Until then it is keeping on top of matters approving drone use on a case-by-case basis. Or so it claims. But when you can go on Amazon and buy a Parrot Quadcopter for just $299 (£184) – a kind of flying spider with four rotors sturdy enough to carry a video or still camera – it should be obvious that the FAA can’t possibly know who is out there already directing their own private drone missions. More importantly, the 70-page FAA document is nearly all about safety while it pays only lip service to what should be concerning us just as much – how the coming swarms will corrupt our privacy

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

Libya’s situation ﬁts the Orwellian concept of chaos This refers to the report, ‘Three soldiers perish in Benghazi violence’, published in Times of Oman. The incident is another reminder that Libya’s struggle to get back to normalcy is far from over.

Study rather to ﬁll your mind than your coffers; knowing that gold and silver were originally mingled with dirt, until avarice or ambition parted them. SENECA

even further. “It’s what we do best,” the papers says about keeping drone traffic safe, before adding: “It’s still to be determined what part of the government will ultimately be responsible for (drone) privacy protection.” This is hardly reassuring. There is no point in hoping that the sudden interest in civilian drones will fizzle and die. There are scores of ways in which they will become indispensable to all manner of people. Journalists will use them, for example to get a look at natural disaster or combat zones. Indeed, CNN used drone footage of the cyclone devastation in the Philippines. Anyone trying to survey hard-to-access areas – oil companies, search and rescue teams, environmentalists and so on – will rush to deploy them. But so will people with more nefarious intentions. Celebrities might want to ponder the matter as the paparazzi-brigade realises it can take its game into airspace. Ask Tina Turner whose August wedding in Switzerland was disturbed by an uninvited cameraloaded drone. The possibilities for those who govern us similarly to abuse these sometimes invisible flying-spying-eyes should also make us shudder. “What’s to prevent all these commercial operators from sharing the vast treasure trove of data that they collect with the government?” asks Jennifer Lynch, of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, an anti-surveillance activist group. “Drones present new issues and they include the fact that drones can fly at various altitudes that makes them impossible to see.” Most Americans surely didn’t know that more than 80 police departments are already using drones to expand their gaze on us until Joe Arpaio, the controversial sheriff of Maricopa County in Arizona, which encompasses Phoenix, blurted last week how badly he wanted one. “A place in Russia said I have a fleet of drones,” he exclaimed “A fleet? I don’t even have one yet.” But when he does will he use it to chase crooks only or will he indulge in his well-documented habit of harassing members of the Hispanic community who may or may not be in the US legally? A federal court has already ruled his department guilty of illegal discrimination in its efforts to identify and deport anyone without papers. The work of a Peeping Tom got easier with the invention of the ladder and then the long lens. But put them up in the air – whether they are perverts, the police or the paparazzi – and none of us will dare open our curtains ever again. - The Independent

The situation is especially bad in Benghazi, the country’s second biggest city where hardliners have been reported to be running their own checkpoints, and assassinations and bombings are order of the day. The chaos is worrying for the country’s neighbours as well as global community as it could further destabilise the region. The silver lining to the otherwise dark clouds is the growing public anger against the militias. Hope it gives the government the conﬁdence and backing to tackle the militias. V. K. Nanda Al Ghubra

Kerala’s all-women taxis a model for other states This refers to news reports about the all-women taxi service that has been launched in Kerala in

India. Considering that violence against women is increasing in India, the introduction of the service is a welcome move. The government-backed service, operated by women for women, has already brought much relief to a large number of commuters. Currently, most women in the state rely on buses and trains. But now women travelling even late at night no longer have to worry as these taxis are available at all hours and if any problem crops up, the driver can press a panic button and seek police help. This project will also offer employment opportunities to women. The service is expected to set new standards in the male-dominated profession. It’s an example for other Indian states to follow. Ramachandran Nair Ruwi

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

S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 3 0, 2 01 3

WORLD Bangladesh workers set fire to garment factory Tempers flared following the announcement of a worker’s death after police fired in the air to break up a road blockade by workers who had earlier vandalised the factory and set two buildings on fire VANDALISED: Smoke rises from a garment factory in Gazipur yes-

DHAKA: A devastating ﬁre ripped through a Bangladesh garment factory supplying major Western retailers, police and industry officials said yesterday. The blaze was caused by workers angered over rumours of a colleague’s death in police ﬁring. Garments are a vital sector for the South Asian nation, whose low wages and duty-free access to Western markets have helped make it the world’s largest apparel exporter after China. But a series of deadly incidents, including a building collapse that killed more than 1,100 people in April, has sparked global concern over weak safety standards in the

terday. The factory, where 18,000 people worked, was among the 10 biggest in the country and the estimated loss to the ﬁrm could be over $100 million, according to officials. - Reuters

country’s $22-billion garment industry. There were no reports of casualties in yesterday’s fire, which gutted a ten-storey building at Gazipur, 40 km north of the capital, Dhaka. But fire fighters were still battling to douse the fire in four nearby buildings, more than 15 hours after it had begun around midnight on Thursday, after workers finished for the day. “We are still struggling to control the flames,” said fire official Mahbubur Rahman, adding that 22 fire service and civil defence units been thrown into the fire-

REVEALING INSIGHTS

fighting operation. At the scene, a Reuters photographer said burnt garments strewn on the floors bore brand names from US retailers such as American Eagle Outfitters Inc, Gap Inc and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Other brands on the clothes included Li and Fung Ltd , Marks and Spencer Group PLC, Sears Canada Inc , Fast Retailing Co Ltd’s Uniqlo and Inditex S.A. brand Zara. Nur-e-Alam, a senior manager of Standard Group, said the factory had stored the next six months EXPLOSIVES IN TURBAN

Victoria guest-edits Paris Vogue edition

Lawmaker hurt in Afghan suicide blast

LONDON: Ex-Spice Girl turned fashion designer Victoria Beckham has guest-edited the Christmas edition of Paris Vogue magazine, the publication said on yesterday. Beckham, 39, appears in a beautiful pose on the front cover of the magazine’s December issue with her retired footballer husband David Beckham, who is photographed sporting a beard and dinner jacket. Editor-in-chief Emmanuelle Alt said Victoria Beckham had “revealed herself to be the opposite of her image” during her editing stint. In comments on the magazine’s website, she described her as “spontaneous, full of humour... modest but at the same time equipped with a healthy ambition”. The issue which goes on sale next week would also offer revealing insights into the Beckhams’ life together, she added. “David and I have been through lots of things together. There

KABUL: A suicide bomber wounded an Afghan lawmaker yesterday by detonating explosives hidden in his turban, officials said, in an attack that echoed the 2011 murder of former president Burhanuddin Rabbani. Hamidullah Tokhi, a lawmaker from Zabul province, was injured when the man entered his house in Kabul and detonated the bomb. “A man with explosives hidden in his turban detonated himself while greeting MP Hamidullah Tokhi in the Kart-e-Parwan district of Kabul,” deputy interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said. “The MP is slightly wounded and he was taken to hospital. We have started our investigation.” At least two other people were injured in the attack. Rabbani, who was the head of Afghanistan’s High Peace Council, was assassinated in 2011 by a bomber with explosives packed in his turban. -AFP

have been highs and lows. But we are very proud of each other,” Beckham said in a long interview which appears in French. She also discussed her Victoria Beckham clothing label which won designer brand of the year at the 2011 British Fashion Awards. “I love fashion, I love this craft... I have big dreams, great hopes and I want this label to still be relevant in 20, 30, 40... 50 years,” she added. Beckham follows in the footsteps of Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, the model-turned-singer who is married to ex-French President Nicolas Sarkozy and who was last year’s guest-editor. David Beckham played his ﬁnal match for French team Paris Saint-Germain in May. The British couple, who have four children together, last week sparked queues around a London charity shop after they donated 20 boxes of clothes and shoes to raise money for victims of the Philippines typhoon. -AFP

of its supplies for top global retailers, including Gap and Wal-Mart. “We were the biggest supplier of Gap in Bangladesh,” he said, adding “Our cargoes were ready for shipment and all that was burnt up.” The loss to the firm could run into more than $100 million, estimated another group official, who asked not to be identified, saying the final tally could exceed his figure. The factory was among the ten biggest in the country, said Mohammad Atiqul Islam, president of industry body the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, adding that the destruction could cost workers their jobs. “Now all the workers are at risk of becoming jobless,” he said. As many as 18,000 people worked at the factory, its owner, Mosharraf Hossain, said. A local police official dismissed as baseless the claim that a worker had died in the firing, adding that a group of workers assisted by nearby residents had set the fire. “We are investigating to find out the reason for this heinous act,” said Mohammad Kamruzzaman, the officer in charge of the Joydevpur police station that guards the area. Police and witnesses said tempers flared following an announcement of a worker’s death after police fired in the air to break up a road blockade by workers who had earlier vandalized the factory and set two buildings on fire. Police had to fire shots in the air to scatter the workers and let in fire fighters, a manager told reporters. -Reuters

DEFIANT OPPOSITION

STREET PROTESTS: Anti-government protestors rally in front of

the national police headquarters during a demonstration in Bangkok yesterday. -AFP

Thai protestors storm army headquarters BANGKOK: Deﬁant Thai opposition protestors stormed the army headquarters and besieged Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s party offices yesterday, intensifying their ﬁght to bring down her government. Boisterous demonstrators have targeted key government buildings in Bangkok in the biggest street protests since mass rallies in 2010 degenerated into the kingdom’s worst civil strife in decades. The protestors -- a mix of royalists, southerners and the urban middle class sometimes numbering in their tens of thousands -- are united by their loathing of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. The controversial former telecoms tycoon was ousted in a coup in 2006 and lives in self-imposed exile, but he is widely believed to be the real power behind the embattled government of his younger sister Yingluck. Protestors are demand-

ing the end of the “Thaksin regime” and want to replace the government with an unelected “people’s council”. Aiming to create chaos “The basic desire of the protestors and the protest leaders is to create chaos and destruction, presumably hoping that the military will have to intervene and take power from the government,” said Thailand expert Andrew Walker, a professor at Australian National University. In the latest provocative move targeting a symbol of state power, demonstrators forced open the gates of the army headquarters in Bangkok, calling on the military to support their ﬁght to bring down the government. Flag-waving demonstrators massed on the lawn inside the army compound in Bangkok’s historic district for several hours before leaving voluntarily. -AFP

A10

S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 30, 2 0 1 3

WORLD HEADSCARVES BAN

France court verdict may impact race ties PARIS: A landmark court ruling this week is set to increase the pressure on French Muslims, potentially at the expense of the country’s fraught race relations, experts fear. Frenchwomen who wear headscarves out of faith could see their freedom to do so curtailed after a Paris appeals court’s decision to uphold a nursery’s right to dismiss a worker who insisted on wearing a hijab at work. At the heart of the case was the question of whether France’s strict ban on any overt religious symbols being displayed in state schools and other public institutions could be applied to what was a privately run nursery. A lower court had said no in March but, after an outcry across the political spectrum, that ruling was overturned on Wednesday. Although further legal wrangling is likely before the issue is deﬁnitively settled, the notion that private employers can tell employees how to dress on the basis of a principle of religious neutrality has been established for the time being. “A line has been breached,” said Franck Fregosi of the national

FRENCH FARMERS PROTEST FISCAL POLICIES Farmers and horticulturists take part in a demonstration in front of the Var’s prefecture in Toulon, southern France, to protest against the government’s ﬁscal policies, yesterday. The banner reads ‘To our late farmers’. -AFP

research centre (CNRS). “Until now, the idea of religious neutrality was exclusively an issue for the public sector. “The problem is that a number of recent developments, including this one, are perceived as being directed exclusively at Muslims, even if the current government actually targets Islam less (than its predecessor).” Among those recent developments was the issuing in September of a “Charter for Secularity in School,” designed to promote better understanding of the principle of the separation of church and state. Dalil Boubakeur, the chairman of the French Muslim Council, said at the time that 90 per cent of the estimated ﬁve million Muslims in France would see the charter as targeting them. Similar concerns have been raised over a debate in some universities about whether Muslim women students should be allowed to wear headscarves to lectures and by a proposal for women who do child-minding at home to be questioned on their religious neutrality. -AFP

S. Africa’s war on AIDS getting complacent? Anti-AIDS activists say one unforeseen consequence of free drugs programme may be that people are less careful about the dangers lurking ahead PRETORIA: South Africa has been hailed as a model for HIV treatment, but some now fear its very success may be breeding complacency and making people less careful about infection. South Africa’s free drugs programme for AIDS has expanded rapidly to 2.4 million people — more than double the number three years ago — and boasts the largest treatment project in the world. At a clinic at one Johannesburg public hospital, life-saving antiretroviral drugs are dispensed at the click of a button. A doctor sees a patient and sends the prescription electronically to the pharmacy, where it is immediately dispatched to a robot. The robot then picks up the prescribed drugs and drops them into a pigeon hole in just under 90 seconds for the patient to collect.

CAUTION: Even as HIV/AIDS is now a manageable condition, young

people should stop being reckless.

“It’s almost like your ‘McDonald’s drive-thru’ principle,” said Ian Sanne, managing director of Right to Care, the non-proﬁt organisation running the Themba Lethu clinic. “The doctor orders it and by the time you get to the next window your drugs are ready.” The hi-tech dispensary bears testimony to how far Africa’s largest economy has come after a court forced it to give free AIDS medicines — called anti-retrovirals or

ARVs — in 2002. With drugs, life expectancy has shot up to 60 years from just 51.6 in 2005. Around 6.4 million South Africans — 12.3 per cent of the population — lives with HIV or AIDS, according to a survey last year. “We are proud that we are regarded as a model country,” Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said. But anti-AIDS activists say one unforeseen consequence of the country’s success may be that people are less careful about the

dangers. “I find that people don’t take the virus as seriously as they should be, especially people our age,” said University of Pretoria volunteer AIDS counsellor Palesa Motau, 21. Some become complacent, she thinks and then say “There’s a Plan B, there’s a Plan C — I’ve always got a safety net.” Even as HIV/AIDS is now a manageable condition, 21-year-old Ayesha Dlamini, who tested positive for HIV at 17, cautioned: “Young people should stop being reckless. “You get people saying: ‘It’s fine if I get HIV, then I can get treatment’ — that irritates me.” Mpho Motiang, another counsellor at the university, says young people are “losing that fear” of HIV, while others say pregnancy is a bigger concern. “We have seen students who go to the clinic not for testing, but for the morning-after pill,” said Johannesburg-based AIDS activist Mongezi Sosibo. Worrying gaps UN children’s body UNICEF believes the stigma of AIDS is still keeping young people from getting tested. “We haven’t seen a lot of ‘Oh! I am not afraid of HIV’, but we have seen that young people are quite afraid of going for testing because they still have issues with testing services, like lack of confidentiality,” said UNICEF HIV specialist Rick Olson, who is responsible for prevention and adolescents. -AFP

C O L O N I A L PA S T

UK officials burnt ﬁles to hide ‘secrets’ LONDON: British officials burned and dumped at sea documents from colonies that were about to become independent in a systematic effort to hide their “dirty” secrets, newly released ﬁles showed yesterday. Under “Operation Legacy”, officials in Kenya, Uganda, Malaysia, Tanzania, Jamaica and other former British colonial territories were briefed on how to dispose of documents that “might embarrass Her Majesty’s Government”.

Newly declassified Foreign Office files reveal how the ‘splendid incinerator’ at the Royal Navy base in Singapore was used to destroy lorry loads of files from the region

Declassified files Newly declassified Foreign Office files reveal how the “splendid incinerator” at the Royal Navy base in Singapore was used to destroy lorry loads of files from the region. Other officials wrote of documents being dumped “in deep and current-free water at the maximum practicable distance from shore”, according to the documents in the National Archives.

ing the 1950s Mau Mau uprising against colonial rule. The ﬁles released yesterday are the ﬁnal batch of a collection whose existence was only revealed by the Foreign Office in January 2011 as part of the Kenyan action.

‘Dirty’ aspects One dispatch from Kenya in 1961 mentions the formation of a committee dealing with ‘dirty’ aspects of protective security” which would “clean” Kenyan intelligence ﬁles, according to The Times newspaper. The British government agreed earlier this year to pay £14 million (16 million euros, $23 million) in compensation to more than 5,200 elderly Kenyans who were tortured and abused dur-

General guidance A Colonial Office telegram of May 3, 1961 stated the general guidance for keeping papers out of the hands of newly elected independent governments. Items should be disposed of if they “might embarrass members of the police, military forces, public servants or others example police informers; might compromise sources of intelligence” -- or might be used “unethically” by incoming ministers. -AFP

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2013

‘No let-up’

S P O R

Lehmann warns England

Amid the rancour over a spiteful opening Test in Brisbane, Lehmann said he wants to take Australian cricket back to the golden eras of Lillee and Thomson, the Chappells and Waugh

S RAISING HOPES

Pattinson set to return to action MELBOURNE: Australia paceman James Pattinson will make a tentative return to competitive cricket when he lines up for Melbourne club Dandenong this weekend, raising his hopes of taking part in the Ashes after being sidelined with a back injury. “We can conﬁrm he is returning as a batsman only at this stage. He has a carefully mapped out return for the month of December and we can reassess after that period,” Pat Howard, Cricket Australia’s high performance manager, said on the governing body’s website yesterday. The 23-year-old suffered a stress fracture in his back that ruled him out of most of the northern Ashes series but has targeted being ﬁt for the third Test starting on December 13 in Perth. - Reuters

SYDNEY: Coach Darren Lehmann said yesterday there will be no let-up as Australia continues its aggressive in-your-face cricket against England in the current Ashes Test series. Amid the rancour over a spiteful opening Test in Brisbane which Australia won by 381 runs last weekend, Lehmann said he wants to take Australian cricket back to the golden eras of Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, the Chappells and Steve Waugh.Lehmann said the playing days of strongwilled Australian characters, Merv Hughes, Rod Marsh and Allan Border were defined by a good hard brand of cricket. “We want to play within the rules but we will play aggressive, in-yourface cricket which was a trademark of those eras,” Lehmann said, writing in News Limited newspapers. “When Australian teams are performing at their best they are playing right on the edge as we were in Brisbane. That is the Aussie way.” Australia captain Michael Clarke was fined 20 percent of his match fee by the ICC after warning England’s James Anderson to expect a broken arm. The final day of the first Test boiled over with constant “sledging” and plenty of finger pointing. Lehmann gave no indication that his Australia team would be backing off from their fiercelyfought cricket at the Gabba, where firebrand paceman Mitchell Johnson was man-of-

MUMBAI: Former India batsman Vinod Kambli, once considered as talented as his school friend Sachin Tendulkar, was admitted to a Mumbai hospital yesterday with a suspected heart attack, media reports said. Kambli, 41, had undergone angioplasty on two blocked arteries last year and appeared to suffer a heart attack morning, NDTV news channel and Rediff website said. He shot to fame in 1988 when he shared a then world record 664-run partnership with Tendulkar in an inter-school match, with both batsmen making unbeaten triple centuries. - AFP

SYDNEY: Former Australia Test captain Steve Waugh says David Warner’s comments about England batsman Jonathan Trott were “out of order” and had crossed the line. Trott made a shock departure from the Ashes tour earlier this week over a stress-related illness. Warner has attracted criticism for comments he made during the ﬁrst Brisbane Test in which he described Trott as “poor and weak”. “I think Dave Warner’s comments were out of order. I don’t believe

the-match with match ﬁgures of nine wickets for 103 runs. “I loved the whole theatre around Mitchell Johnson’s display at the Gabba right down to the fact that his new moustache brought back all those rich memories of the 1970s with the stars and their handlebar mo’s (moustaches),” Lehmann wrote. “I like the sight of characters expressing themselves in the game. That’s the sort of cricket the fans want to see.

you should comment on someone else personally,” Waugh said. “He can make a generic comment, but I think when you get personal like that, you cross the line on how players treat each other, and the respect they should have. “So I didn’t agree with Dave’s comments, having said that, he probably did smell a bit of fear in the England opposition players. Unfortunately for Jonathan Trott, it was a personal issue, and you don’t want to keep going on about that.” - AFP

“We have asked Mitchell to ﬁll a role and he did that brilliantly with aggression and conﬁdence. We want him to liven them (England) up. “When he is on song as he was in Brisbane he produces the type of performances that are a rare and precious sight in the modern game. “My wish is that the lessons of Johnson’s spell and the entire bowling effort echo down through the generations.” — AFP

I T ’ S A B ATT L E

Siddle sympathises with Trott but focus is on winning MELBOURNE: Australia seamer Peter Siddle sympathises with England batsman Jonathan Trott, who left the Ashes tour to deal with a stress-related illness, but said his team’s focus was squarely on winning and that they would not be dialling down the intensity. When asked whether Trott was an “out-of-bounds” topic in onﬁeld banter, Siddle said yesterday:

“Another thing there is it’s a battle out on the ﬁeld and we’ll go about it how we think it will work. “We’ll just keep playing hard cricket. We’ll keep putting the pressure on them. We’ll keep going from there. It’s disappointing for him to be going home, I wish him all the best, but we’re going out there trying to win test matches and however we do that we’ll play hard,

aggressive cricket and hopefully get the win at the end of the day.” Danger men Siddle also ratcheted up the tension by suggesting Australia’s bowlers had the measure of Cook and England’s aggressive number four batsman Kevin Pietersen. After scoring 13 in the ﬁrst innings at the Gabba, Cook hit Eng-

WORKING HARD

Ballance boosts Test chances

H O S P I TA L I S E D

Kambli suffers heart attack, says reports

Waugh slams ‘out of order’ Warner

TIMELY KNOCK: England’s Gary Ballance executes a shot during a two-day match against Austral-

ian Chairman’s XI at Traeger Park in Alice Springs yesterday. – AFP

ALICE SPRINGS: Gary Ballance boosted his chances of playing in next week’s second Ashes Test with a half century while others failed on a sweltering ﬁrst day for England in their tour match yesterday. The Yorkshire left-hander, promoted to number three, scored 55 off 134 balls as the tourists could only muster 212 for seven before declaring against the Cricket Australia Chairman’s XI in Alice Springs. It was Ballance, bidding with Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes to replace Jonathan Trott in the second Adelaide Test, who compiled his maiden half century for England to hold the innings together.

Stokes and Bairstow chipped in with 28 and an unbeaten 31 respectively on a day of sapping heat when the batsmen struggled to convert starts. Ballance, originally from Zimbabwe, ﬁnally showed some form on the Australian tour after previous scores of 0, 0 and 4 to put his hand up for a Test spot against the Australians. “It would be a great feeling but I don’t really want to look too far ahead,” Ballance said. “After those few low scores at the beginning of the tour, I’ve worked hard in the nets and if that chance does come up ... I think I’ll be ready.” England are looking for a new batsman following the shock de-

parture of number three Trott from the rest of the Ashes series with a stress-related illness. “I’d like to think so. To be able to get a 50 today ... I’ve given myself a bit of conﬁdence so if I do get picked I think I’ll be ready,” Ballance said of his Test chances. Local openers Marcus Harris (10) and Steve Cazzulino further frustrated England’s efforts at a quick couple of wickets after their innings declaration by reaching stumps at 16 without loss heading into today’s ﬁnal day. Sent in to bat by Chairman’s XI, the tourists had slumped to 149 for six before Bairstow and Graeme Swann (29) added 49 for the seventh wicket. - AFP

land’s top score of 65 in the second, while Pietersen was dismissed for 18 and 26. “I think the biggest danger is Alastair Cook at the top and Kevin Pietersen. They’re the two we’ve probably targeted the most in the last couple of series and sort of got on top of,” Siddle told reporters by the Dennis Lillee statue at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

“That’ll be no different here. We’ve just got to try to keep working them over, keep the pressure on them, keep building, hopefully keep the success going.” On Adelaide Oval’s new dropin pitch, Australia’s pacemen are unlikely to enjoy the bounce that troubled England’s batsmen at the Gabba, and are expected to need to bowl bigger workloads. - Reuters

A12

S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 30, 2 0 1 3

SPORTS HOCKEY

Seeb rout Suwaiq in HM’s Cup MUSCAT: Pakistani recruits provided the spark as an inspired Seeb began their campaign in His Majesty’s Cup Hockey Championship with a 3-0 win over Suwaiq at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex yesterday. Kashif Ali and Shakeel Abbas turned the heroes as Seeb earned full points on the second day of the championship. Kashif Ali scored first of two goals off a short corner in the 18th minute to put Seeb ahead. Later Seeb consolidated their lead when Kashif’s compatriot Shakeel Abbas struck a beautiful field goal before the former converted another penalty corner in the 62nd minute for his second and team’s third goal. The championship began at Sohar Sports Complex on Thursday when former champions Ahli-Sidab edged local outfit Sohar 3-2. The action continues in Muscat tomorrow when Seeb square off against archrivals Ahli-Sidab at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.

GOING STRONG AT

OPL

Al Nahda hit six against Majees MUSCAT: Al Nahda routed Majees in week nine action to leapfrog Sur to the top of the Oman Professional League (OPL) yesterday. In one of the most lopsided matches of the OPL season played in Ibri, Al Nahda scored six unanswered goals against a completely off-colour Majees to take their points tally to 19, same as Sur. But thanks to their better goal average Al Nahda occupy the top place while Sur, who blanked Al Musannah 2-0 on Thursday, are in second. Fanja are third on 18 points after losing to Seeb by a 2-0 margin on Thursday. In other matches played yesterday, hosts Sohar played out a 1-1 draw with Al Ittihad while Al Arouba defeated Al Nasr 2-1 at Sur Sports Complex. The ninth week action continues today when Al Shabab take on Saham and Suwaiq lock horns with Dhofar. Both matches are scheduled to be played at Seeb Stadium.

I don’t know what the younger lads think of me. When I was 17 and 18, I thought 31 was ancient. And here I am at 40!

WELLINGTON: Top-order batsman Aaron Redmond has earned a New Zealand Test recall, ﬁve years after he last played the longest form of the game, for the series against West Indies that starts next week. The 34-year-old has been named in a 13-man squad for the three-match series that starts in Dunedin on December 3 ostensibly to provide cover for the injured Kane Williamson. Redmond, who last played a Test against Australia in 2008, has been in good form in Plunket Shield ﬁrst-class cricket for the past two seasons and batted well in a warm-up match in Christchurch. “Aaron has made a good start to the Plunket Shield to date and on top of the 67 he scored yesterday for the New Zealand XI we felt he was the best top order batting cover,” selection manager Bruce Edgar said yesterday. The team: Brendon McCullum (captain), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Peter Fulton, A Redmond, Hamish Rutherford, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling and Kane Williamson. - Reuters

Two in court in English football fixing probe LONDON: Two men with Singaporean nationality suspected of fixing matches in lowerleague English football were remanded in custody by magistrates yesterday. The men, alleged to be members of a Singapore-based betting syndicate, were among seven people arrested this week in an investigation by the recentlyformed National Crime Agency (NCA). Chann Sankaran, a 33-yearold Singapore national, and Krishna Sanjey Ganeshan, a 43-year-old with dual British and Singapore nationality, were remanded in custody until December 13 by magistrates in Cannock, central England. Sankaran and Ganeshan have been accused of conspiring to defraud bookmakers by influencing the course of football matches and placing bets on them between November 1 and November 26 this year. The maximum sentence for this offence is 10 years’ imprisonment. The NCA said their investigation was ongoing. Thursday’s Daily Telegraph newspaper said an undercover investigation by its reporters had triggered the probe by the NCA, Britain’s equivalent of the FBI. No teams in England’s lucrative Premier League are believed to be involved in the probe. Meanwhile a notorious Singaporean football match-fixer denied any links to the alleged plot in England after a suspect

named him as his “boss”, a report said yesterday. Wilson Raj Perumal, a convicted ﬁxer who is under police protection in Hungary, told Singapore’s New Paper he played no part in the scam although he admitted he had full knowledge of it. In the videotaped Daily Telegraph sting a Singaporean suspect says he is working for Perumal. But Perumal, a self-confessed arch-ﬁxer who says he used to collaborate with alleged Singaporean mastermind Dan Tan, insisted he was not involved. “He (the suspect) was acting on his own. He was set up,” he told the New Paper via email. “I told him to be very careful (that) this may be a set-up,” Perumal wrote, adding the suspect was “keeping me posted on what he was doing even though I never asked for it”. Charged for hacking Meanwhile, three men including a referee have been charged following allegations of computer hacking and the sharing of private information at the English Football Association (FA), police said yesterday. Dean Mohareb, a 30-year-old referee, has been charged with perverting the course of justice and unauthorised access to computer data, while Liam Cliff, 18, and Vincent Rossi, 46, have been charged with perverting the course of justice. All three live in the Manchester area in northwest England. - AFP

RYAN GIGGS

ISC TENNIS

CRICKET

Redmond returns to NZ Test team

SUSPECTS

Ryan Giggs has out-lasted David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Gary and Phil Neville, who came off the same United academy conveyor belt, and it is not beyond credibility that he could rack up 1,000 games for the club

LONDON: Ryan Giggs was the ﬁrst graduate of the so-called ‘Class of ‘92’ to make his mark at Manchester United and on the day he turns 40, he is preparing for the weekend the same way he has for most of his life. The mercurial Welshman has out-lasted David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Gary and Phil Neville, who came off the same United academy conveyor belt, and it is not beyond credibility that he could rack up 1,000 games for the club. United’s record appearance maker was one of the side’s best players in the 5-0 Champions League hammering of Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday, his 953rd match for the club, and he will be in the squad for tomorrow’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur. With 13 Premier league titles, four FA Cups, two Champions Leagues, four League Cups and, surprisingly only

one PFA Player of the Year award, Giggs has achieved everything possible in his club career, but still appears hungry for more. “I’m lucky that I have been at one club, where I am surrounded by good players and a good manager,” Giggs said in an interview with the BBC that will be screened today. “I still want to do well in every game, want to win trophies and my focus needs to be on that. I look after myself and try to train every day in order to make myself available for selection. “I enjoy it as much as I can and, of course, try to contribute to the team. I don’t know what the younger lads think of me. When I was 17 and 18, I thought 31 was ancient. And here I am at 40!” Rooney praise Having spent the ﬁrst half of his career rampaging up the

left wing, Giggs has evolved into the complete midfielder and with United lacking in the creativity department, still offers the kind of guile and intelligence that money cannot buy. Giggs was magnificent against Leverkusen and teammate Wayne Rooney could not praise him highly enough. “Their centre half was asking how is he still playing at that age,” Rooney said. “His composure on the ball is fantastic. Ryan has done it for years and I’ve run out of things to say about him. I don’t know how he is still doing it.” Beckham, 38, who has been busy promoting the ‘Class of ‘92’ film that will be hitting the big screen in December and will chronicle the rise of United’s golden generation, said Giggs “makes him feel old”. “I’m not surprised he’s still playing because of the talent he is and how driven he still is and how he’s looked after himself over the years really is incredible,” Beckham, who ended his career last season, said in an interview on the BBC. “His performance the other night in the Champions League was amazing but it doesn’t surprise me. It’s an incredible achievement. I’m proud of what he’s achieved.” Beckham said Giggs’ breakthrough into the first team paved the way for his own career to take off. “He was someone we looked up to and aspired to, he gave the other ones in the youth team hope.” - Reuters

Mohan downs Percy for veterans’ title MUSCAT: Second seed Mohan Kannan captured the veterans’ singles title at the Falcon Insurance Company-sponsored Annual Tennis Tournament organised by the Indian Social Club Muscat with a straightsets victory over fourth seed Percy Pereira in the final. Although the victory margin of 6-2, 6-2 looks convincing, the effort that Mohan had to put in was far greater than what the scoreline suggests. It was Percy’s fitness versus Mohan’s resilience. Percy’s ability to reach the ball and return it from any corner of the court made things difficult for Mohan. But a seasoned campaigner that he is, Mohan planned his

moves, attacked the net and gradually consolidated his score. Percy broke Mohan in the seventh game but Mohan broke back and wrapped up the ﬁrst set. Percy kept pace with Mohan until two-games-all in the second set after which Mohan saved a break point in the next game and reeled off the next four games to win the second set and the veterans’ title. Mohan Kannan will attempt to capture a double crown when he will team up with top junior player Nevil Philips in the men’s doubles ﬁnal tomorrow the concluding day of the tournament. Mohan and Nevil will take on the team of teenagers, Armaan Sattikar and Subash Pillai.

KEEN TUSSLE: Veterans’ singles champion Mohan Kannan,

right, shakes hands with runner-up Percy Pereira. – Supplied photo

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM S ATU RDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2013

EU JOBS, INFLATION DATA OFFER MODEST RESPITE

MARKE

Improved eurozone jobs and inﬂation data yesterday are welcome but offer only modest respite as the bloc struggles to get back on track after a record recession, analysts said. >B3

ONLINE SERVICES

Dutch privacy watchdog says Google violates data law AMSTERDAM: Google’s practice of combining personal data from its many different online services violates Dutch data protection law, the country’s privacy watchdog said on Thursday after a seven-month investigation. The Dutch Data Protection Authority, or DPA, asked Google to attend a meeting to discuss its concerns, after which it would decide whether to take any action against

the cloud services, Internet search and advertising giant, which could include fines. Google, responding to the Dutch authority’s findings, said it provided users of its services with sufficiently specific information about the way it processed their personal data. “Our privacy policy respects European law and allows us to create simpler, more effective ser-

vices. We have engaged fully with the Dutch DPA throughout this process and will continue to do so going forward,” Google said in a statement. The Dutch decision reﬂects concerns across Europe about the volume of personal data that is held in foreign jurisdictions in so-called “cloud” storage services, where data is stored remotely via the Internet instead of on-site, giv-

ing individuals little control over their personal information. Privacy campaigners have also pointed to documents leaked by the former CIA technician and National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden that suggest US intelligence services have access to material stored in US-based cloud services. “Google spins an invisible web of our personal data, without con-

Indian economy posts surprise 4.8% growth the second ﬁnancial quarter to September beat market forecasts of 4.6% growth and topped the 4.4% expansion India logged in the previous three months

ROBUST ECONOMY: Economists credited the improved July-to-September quarterly performance to higher farm output from the best monsoon in six years. — Bloomberg ﬁle picture

going through a “period of stress” but “we are conﬁdent of coming out of it and returning to the high growth path”. He forecast India’s economic growth would rebound to six percent next year and seven per cent the following year. Economists credited the improved July-to-September quarterly performance to higher farm output from the best monsoon in half a dozen years. Agriculture output climbed in the quarter by a robust 4.6 per cent from a year earlier. But India’s rural hinterland accounts for just one-third of gross domestic product and is insufficient to pull the nation’s economy out of its rut on its own, economists said. Manufacturing output expanded by a tepid one per cent, but better than the April-June quarter when it shrank by 1.2 per cent.

Increase in production Hopes of a big increase in production for India’s religious festival season in October, when it is considered auspicious to buy everything from cars to gold to appliances, failed to materialise this year. Growth fell to a decade-low of five per cent in the fiscal year to March 2013. The government has forecast around 5.0-5.5 per cent expansion this financial year. But most private economists believe India’s economic growth may be below five per cent for the first time since 2003. Tight fiscal policy and two recent interest rate hikes to curb stubbornly high inflation “will impact recovery in coming quarters”, Barclays economist Siddhartha Sanyal said ahead of the data. With inflation still stubbornly

high at seven percent, Goldman Sachs has forecast more interest rate hikes, which would keep growth subdued. The investment house predicts the central bank’s new governor, Raghuram Rajan, will hike India’s benchmark lending rate to 8.5 per cent next year from its current 7.75 per cent. Chidambaram, meanwhile, has said he is intent on cutting the fiscal deficit to a six-year low of 4.8 per cent of gross domestic product this financial year, implying a row back in public spending that would dampen growth. — Agencies

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countries, though the fines regulators can typically impose are modest. In France, the maximum fine is 300,000 euros ($408,000). In a previous Dutch case involving the gathering of data from Wifi networks, a spokeswoman for the agency said Google — which has a market capitalisation of over $350 billion — could have been fined up to one million euros if it had not subsequently complied. — Reuters

ECONOMY

European ﬁrms size up Iran’s post-deal potential BERLIN: The phone hasn’t stopped ringing at the GermanIranian Chamber of Commerce since six world powers reached a deal with Tehran to curb its nuclear programme, opening the prospect that Iran can begin to shake off its economic isolation. A strategically located country with massive oil and gas reserves, an urgent need to overhaul its creaking infrastructure, and a young population of 76 million is of particular interest to export champion Germany, once Iran’s largest trade partner.

The official data for

NEW DELHI: India posted faster-than-expected quarterly economic growth of 4.8 per cent yesterday, boosted by robust farm output, spurring hopes that an end to the country’s prolonged downturn may be in sight. The official data for the second financial quarter to September beat market forecasts of 4.6 per cent growth and topped the 4.4 per cent expansion India logged in the previous three months. “Indian GDP growth appears to be bottoming out,” said Miguel Chanco, Asia economist for research house Capital Economics. But “India’s road to recovery will be slow and bumpy,” he said. The figure marked the fourth quarter in a row that India’s growth has been below five per cent. Expansion has fallen sharply from the heady nearly double-digit growth that the country enjoyed just two years ago. Still, the figures were a welcome respite for the scandal-tarred Congress party-led government, which is desperate to nurse the economy back to health before general elections due by May. Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said India’s economy is

sent,” said Jacob Kohnstamm, the chairman of the DPA. “That is forbidden by law.” In March 2012, Google unilaterally imposed new terms of service on users of all its cloud services, which include the YouTube video streaming site, the GMail email service, and the ubiquitous Google search engine. That decision triggered privacy investigations in six European

Likely to tread warily “We are speaking to companies interested in doing business with Iran all day,” said Michael Tockuss, director of the chamber of commerce. In practice, they are likely to tread warily. The preliminary accord struck in Geneva on Sunday, which brings up to $7 billion worth of sanctions relief to Iran, could still come unstuck after 10 years of distrust and rancour, leading to yet deeper sanctions that could sink any hasty investments. The deal, which runs for six months, includes access to a potential $1.5 billion in trade in gold and precious metals, the suspension of some sanctions on Iran’s auto sector and petrochemical exports, and opens ways to send and receive payments for humanitarian trade, including medicine and medical devices. The United States, under pressure from congressmen sceptical about the deal and from an implacably opposed Israel, has downplayed the likelihood of a business bonanza. “We don’t see on the basis of a six-month agreement business rushing in ... and we will vigorously, vigorously, enforce the vast majority of sanctions, which will remain in place,” a senior US administration official said ahead of the talks. But he conceded: “There is no doubt that some

VITAL FACTS

Populous, resource-rich Iran could be lucrative market

German exports to a postsanction Iran could hit ﬁve billion euros

German-Iranian Chamber of Commerce reports increased interest

Many companies eyeing opportunities, but too early to act

business will return to Iran.” Tockuss said there was “not only appetite from Germany. American firms are also very interested, particularly in areas such as medical equipment ... One of the most important aspects of the agreement is the financial channel it establishes.” He also listed automobile parts suppliers, machinery makers and infrastructure suppliers as firms that could benefit. Although humanitarian products like medicines were exempt from sanctions, in practice supplies have been disrupted because banks and companies have been wary of doing business with Tehran. That could now start to change, increasing the flow of Western drugs to the country. Richard Bergstrom, director general of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations, said controls on capital flows had indirectly contributed to shortages of medicines in Iran. “I think the easing of restrictions is good for Iranian patients,” he said. Turkey’s leading pharmaceuticals company Abdi Ibrahim said the ability to resume payments under a Turkish bank would be a positive driver for companies. — Reuters

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FEATURE

TO GET A JUMP on rivals like Samsung Electronics and lay the groundwork for new products, Apple is spending more on the machines that do the behindthe-scenes work of mass producing iPhones, iPads and other gadgets. That includes equipment to polish the new iPhone 5c’s colorful plastic, laser and milling machines to carve the MacBook’s aluminium body, and testing gear for the iPhone and iPad camera lens, said people with knowledge of the company’s manufacturing methods, who asked not to be identified because the process is private. The spending, which Apple outlined in its fiscal 2014 capitalexpenditure forecast, underscores how the world’s most valuable company is diving deeper into designing and inventing technology for its manufacturing process. Apple is increasingly striking exclusive machinery deals, said the people familiar with the work, outspending peers on the tools that it then places in the factories of its suppliers, many of which are in Asia. “Their designs are so unique that you have to have a very unique manufacturing process to make it,” said Muthuraman Ramasamy, an analyst with consulting firm Frost & Sullivan, who has studied the use of the machinery. “Apple has so much cash that they can invest in cutting-edge, world-class machinery that is typically used for aerospace and defence.” New urgency Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook, who helped create Apple’s vast supply chain before succeeding Steve Jobs as CEO in 2011, is pumping money back into the business as sales growth has stagnated amid competition from Samsung and others. While designing a manufacturing process has long been part of Apple’s product creation, the task has taken on heightened urgency: The company’s fiscal 2014 capital expenditures excluding retail spending are up 61 per cent from 2013 and almost 10-fold since 2008. The $10.5 billion Apple has forecast for fiscal 2014 capital expenditures is a fraction of its $171 billion in sales last year, and some of the money is going toward building its new headquarters in Cupertino, California. Still, Samsung, which has earmarked about $22 billion in capital expenditures this year, is the only consumer-electronics company outspending Apple, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. By contrast, Hewlett-Packard shelled out $3.7 billion last year and Sony spent $3.95 billion. Gestation period Apple’s work on its manufacturing process typically begins in the industrial design team led by Senior Vice-President Jony Ive. The group comes up with ideas, then works with the company’s hardware-engineering group to develop large-scale methods for getting the products built, since some of the techniques Apple uses have only been applied to making small batches of goods, said people with knowledge of the process. Apple engineers often spend weeks at facilities in Asia making sure the parts and equipment they buy or make are working properly, people familiar with the work said. The company has hired robotics experts and its website has several job openings for engineers who can operate high-end manufacturing equipment. Doug Field, a senior engineer who worked with Ive’s design group, recently parlayed the experience into a new job at Tesla Motors as vice-president for designing new vehicles. China outsourcing Apple’s approach contrasts with other technology companies, which typically partner with contract manufacturers to handle much of the engineering work involved in getting a product made in large numbers, said Cormac Eubanks, product development director at industrial design firm Frog Design. “Most companies will hire a design firm to create a rendering of a product, throw it over the wall to China and then it’s the Chinese engineers who do the detailed engineering work,” said Eubanks, a mechanical engineer. “What Apple does is hard and it takes a lot of time and money.” Steve Dowling, a spokesman for Apple, declined to comment. The attention Apple pays to manufacturing tools was evident in 2010

when it built the iPhone 4. At the time, the product- development team needed a machine to ensure new gyroscope technology that adds motion-detection capabilities for video games and other applications was working properly on the smartphone, said a person who worked on the project. No testing equipment existed for the scale Apple needed — so its engineers built one, said the person. Granite invention The resulting contraption has a granite base and cubes that spin several iPhones around 30 degrees a second to test that the movementtracking technology is functioning, said the person. Apple then had enough of the machines made to place at the end of suppliers’ assembly lines in China for iPhones to run through, said the person. For its 2012 iMac redesign, Apple made the computer thinner with a new production technique for laminating a display to a piece of cover glass, said a person with knowledge of the matter. Apple also created a method for putting an anti-reflective coating on Mac computers by adding an electrical charge to the display, causing anti-reflective particles to stick to the screen, said the person. The technique, previously done at small scale for medical devices and astronomy telescopes, hadn’t been automated to produce millions of Mac computers a year, said the person. Sapphire materials Apple does more than just buy machinery for its suppliers. The company also uses its $146.8 billion cash hoard to serve as a quasi-bank by providing financing to build factories, said Horace Dediu, a former Nokia researcher who has studied Apple’s capital expenditures and runs Asymco.com. A case in point came earlier this month when Apple struck a deal with GT Advanced Technologies Inc., a maker of furnace equipment that is used to produce sapphire materials that cover smartphone lenses and home buttons. Apple received an exclusivity agreement from GT Advanced for the furnaces in exchange for making a prepayment of $578 million. GT Advanced said it would pay Apple back over five years starting in 2015. The deal has “limited our ability to take additional” business, Thomas Gutierrez, GT Advanced’s CEO, said in a conference call with analysts. Rich deal GT Advanced said in its announcement that revenue from the division that includes the kinds of machines Apple is buying will increase to 80 per cent of the company’s total business, predicted to be $600 million to $800 million, up from 31 per cent previously. Jeff Nestel-Patt, a spokesman for GT Advanced, declined to make any additional comment or make executives available to discuss the project. With the spending, Apple also is laying the foundation for new products. Cook said last month the company is preparing devices in technology areas where it doesn’t currently compete. The company has been exploring building a wristwatch-like wearable-computing device as well as new television products, people familiar with the plans have said. Apple also is working on new iPhone designs with bigger screens and sensors that distinguish heavy or light touches, a person with knowledge of the plans said earlier this week. The spending is also playing a role in Apple’s push to add more production in the US after years of doing most of the work in Asia, a practice that has led to worker abuses. The machines for GT Advanced will be used at a new plant in Arizona. And Apple’s new Mac Pro, which will go on sale next month, will also be assembled in the US with robotics technology used in automobile manufacturing. “Apple deploys capital as a competitive advantage,” Dediu said. — Bloomberg News

APPLE’S $10.5B ON ROBOTS TO LASERS SHORES UP SUPPLY CHAIN To get a jump on rivals like Samsung Electronics and lay the groundwork for new products, Apple is spending more on the machines that do the behind-the-scenes work of mass producing iPhones, iPads and other gadgets

S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 3 0, 2 01 3

MARKET Jobs, inﬂation data offer modest respite The jobless rate in the 17-nation eurozone dropped to 12.1 per cent in October from a record 12.2 per cent in September, the Eurostat statistics agency said

BRUSSELS: Improved eurozone jobs and inflation data yesterday are welcome but offer only modest respite as the bloc struggles to get back on track after a record recession, analysts said. “The uptick in inflation will ease concerns about deflationary risks,” said Martin van Vliet of Global Economics ING. “But with high unemployment keeping wage growth down, disinflationary pressures ... remain firmly in place,” Van Vliet said. The jobless rate in the 17-nation eurozone dropped to 12.1 per cent in October from a record 12.2 per cent in September, the Eurostat statistics agency said. The total out of work fell 61,000 to 19.3 million. Meanwhile, inflation rose to 0.9 per cent in November from a four-year low of 0.7 per cent in October which had stoked concerns the bloc risked a damaging cycle of falling prices. The jobs report “is a modest pleasant surprise but does not change the picture of a very weak labour market,” said Johnathan Loynes of Capital Economics. Serious inroads “Growth is nowhere near strong enough to make serious inroads into the jobless totals,” Loynes said, noting that while inflation was above his 0.8 per cent forecast, “there are good reasons to expect it to fall further.” Earlier this month, the European Commission revised up its 2014 unemployment estimate to 12.2 per cent from 12.1 per cent and cut its growth forecast to 1.1 per cent

LOOKING UP: Inﬂation has fallen steadily as a result — it ran at 2.2 per cent in November 2012 — put-

ting even more pressure on the ECB to do more to support the economy. — Bloomberg ﬁle picture

from 1.2 per cent. It put 2014 inflation at 1.5 per cent. Vicious circle of deflation The debt crisis has savaged growth and jobs, with government austerity policies also sucking demand out of the economy. Inflation has fallen steadily as a result — it ran at 2.2 per cent in November 2012 — putting even more pressure on the European Central Bank to do more to support the economy. The ECB bases its monetary policy on keeping inflation at near to 2.0 per cent and earlier this month cut its benchmark interest rate to a record low 0.25 per cent from 0.50 per cent. The eurozone escaped a record 18-month recession in the second quarter this year with growth of 0.3 per cent but that slowed alarmingly to just 0.1 per cent in the third. Disinflation describes slowing price rises which remain in positive territory but reflect a stagnating economy in which growth and jobs are elusive. The risk is that disinflation becomes deflation, or falling prices in real terms, which encourages consumers to put off buying goods

in the expectation that if they wait, they will get them cheaper. That dampens demand, adding to the downward pressure in the economy as companies hold back investment, in turn impacting jobs and demand in a vicious circle seen at its worst in the 1930’s Great Depression. Howard Archer of IHS Global Insight said the November inflation report “modestly eases fears that the eurozone is headed for deflation” and will be a relief for the ECB. Similarly, the jobs report “is encouraging news,” Archer said, citing it as the first fall in the jobless ranks since early 2011. However, “unemployment remains worryingly high ... and it seems unlikely to come down markedly any time soon which will likely limit the upside for consumer spending,” he added. Archer said he did not expect the ECB to take any further action at its policy meeting next week but it would move later to bolster demand by pumping more liquidity into the financial system. The ECB could trim its interest rate to 0.1 per cent or zero, he said, adding that it may even impose

ECONOMY

October data gives boost to Japan’s war on deflation TOKYO: Japan’s war on deflation got a boost last month with a key inflation indicator rising at its fastest pace in 15 years, new data showed yesterday , as Tokyo battles to reverse years of falling prices. Stripping out volatile food and energy prices, which have largely

driven recent increases, prices inched up 0.3 per cent in October, the country’s best result since August 1998. The broader consumer price index, which measures a basket of everyday goods but excludes the cost of fresh food, rose 0.9 per cent last month from a year ear-

lier, the fastest pace in ﬁve years. The upbeat headline for inﬂation data was tempered by the fact that prices were still largely driven up by higher fuel bills, not surging demand for everyday goods like vacuum cleaners and clothes which power the economy as a whole. — AFP

negative rates on commercial bank deposits it holds. That unusual and radical central bank step would add to the many carrots and sticks already in use to get the banks lending again. For the moment, lenders are focused on strengthening their balance sheets after the damage suffered in the debt crisis. Marie Diron, senior economic adviser at EY Eurozone Forecast, cautioned that a statistical effect was largely responsible for the marginal increase in inflation. “The overall assessment remains that inflation is very low,” Diron said, adding that the ECB “needs to recognise the risk of deflation more clearly and act preemptively. “Failing that, our analysis shows that should the eurozone fall into deflation, public and private debt burdens would become very difficult to sustain,” she warned. — AFP

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CHABAHAR PORT

India accelerates Iranian port project after US-Iran thaw NEW DELHI: India is sending a team to Iran to speed up work on a port that will provide access to resource-rich Central Asia and Afghanistan, officials said, moving quickly to take advantage of a thaw in Iran’s relations with the West. The port of Chabahar in southeast Iran is central to India’s efforts to circumvent Pakistan and open up a route to landlocked Afghanistan where it has developed close security ties and economic interests. The port, which India is partly financing, will also be another gateway to Iran itself for Indian commerce. Work has been slow on expanding berthing facilities and container terminals, partly because India has been reluctant to press ahead too enthusiastically for fear of upsetting the United States, keen to isolate Iran over its nuclear ambitions. On Monday, just after Iran sealed an initial accord with six powers including the United States to limit its nuclear programme in exchange for the easing of some sanctions, Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh met Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ebrahim Rahimpour to discuss economic opportunities. The Iranian official was recently in New Delhi on a prearranged visit but as news of the deal in Geneva broke, the talks turned to ways to fast-track the long-running port project. “For us, Chabahar is a strategic necessity, otherwise we don’t have access to Afghanistan and central Asia,” a foreign ministry official further said. Pakistan, loath to see growing Indian influence in Afghanistan, does not allow India to send goods through its territory to Afghanistan and has only recently begun to allow a trickle of Afghan exports to cross through to India. The Indian ministry official said while India’s involvement in the port development was not strictly under the international sanctions that had been imposed on Iran, any improvement in Iran’s ties with the West would build confidence in the project. “The Geneva agreement certainly opens up the space to

For us, Chabahar is a strategic necessity, otherwise we don’t have access to Afghanistan and central Asia Official statement Foreign ministry

pursue this at greater pace,” he added. India has committed $100 million to upgrading facilities at the port after spending $100 million on building a 220-km (140mile) road in a dangerous stretch of western Afghanistan to link up with Chabahar. The port on the Gulf of Oman is 72-km (44 mile) from Pakistan’s deep-water Gwadar port, which China has built as part of a plan to open up an energy and trade corridor from the Gulf, across Pakistan to western China. Indian attention Both India and China have been trying to secure energy supplies for their growing economies, investing in projects abroad and offering engineering and ﬁnancial assistance in a race that extends from Africa to Latin America. Chabahar is the ﬁrst foreign port that India is directly involved in developing. India is struggling to modernise its own congested ports. China, on the other hand has helped build a string of ports in foreign countries, including Gwadar and Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port. “Chabahar is going to see more Indian attention over the next few months,” said Shashank Joshi, who specialises in the Middle East and South Asia at the London-based Royal United Services Institute. — Reuters

S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 30, 2 0 1 3

MARKET Experts see no speedy exit from West’s economic malaise as yet

Global CIO (equities) Fidelity Worldwide

has hollowed out skilled jobs in advanced economies in what British financial analyst Tim Morgan, in his book ‘Life After Growth’ calls “a self-inflicted disaster with few parallels in economic history”. Jen added: “If you are a labourer in the West, you have been hurt. It’s very clear. If you are a capitalist in the West, you have benefited immensely.” Dominic Rossi, global chief investment officer for equities at Fidelity Worldwide Investment, noted that labour’s share of US non-financial output held steady at between 61 per cent and 65 per cent for half a century. “Then, something happened. From 2000, it plummeted and currently rests at an all-time low of 57 per cent,” Rossi wrote in the Financial Times. Over the same period, median US household incomes have fallen in real terms. “Overall, labour is not participating in economic growth as it has done in the past,” he said.

Exports duly exploded. China’s resulting current account surplus, though now declining, contributed to a glut of global savings that depressed US interest rates and helped fuel the fateful boom in sub-prime mortgages. China’s foreign exchange reserves today stand at an unfathomable $3.66 trillion. Tens of millions of people have been lifted out of poverty by the rise of China and other poor countries plugged into global supply chains. But outsourcing of production

The zero bound So what is to be done? Against a background of high debt and depressed incomes and investment, former US Treasury secretary Larry Summers posited at a recent IMF conference that real interest rates consistent with full employment could now be minus 2-3 per cent. “We may well need in the years ahead to think about how we manage an economy in which the zero nominal interest rate is a chronic and systemic inhibitor of economic activity, holding our economies back below their potential,” Summers said. — Reuters

Governments and households

Then, something happened. From 2000, it plummeted and currently rests at an alltime low of 57 per cent. Overall, labour is not participating in economic growth as it has done in the past

racked up too much debt to sustain living standards. Demographic tailwinds have turned into headwinds as baby boomers retire and the surge of women entering the workforce has

Dominic Rossi

run its course UNCERTAIN TIMES: Six years after the global ﬁnancial crisis erupted, there is any number of explana-

tions why Europe cannot shake off a Japan-style balance-sheet recession. — Bloomberg ﬁle picture

LONDON: Ending the Great Stagnation that is taxing Western policy makers may depend as much on the Chinese Communist Party as it does on the world’s leading central banks. Six years after the global ﬁnancial crisis erupted, there is any number of explanations why Europe cannot shake off a Japanstyle balance-sheet recession and why the United States is experiencing sub-par growth and high unemployment. Governments and households racked up too much debt to sustain

living standards. Demographic tailwinds have turned into headwinds as baby boomers retire and the surge of women entering the workforce has run its course. Many banks are still ailing and are building up capital instead of lending freely. But two other factors cannot be overlooked. Firstly, there is an excess of global savings, which has lowered the natural real rate of interest that equalises savings and investment. The net result is a liquidity trap. Even with interest rates near zero,

INDIA CURRENCY

monetary policy is like pushing on a piece of string. Secondly, the share of income mostly accruing to labour has shrivelled in most countries. With real incomes stagnant or falling, consumer demand is too weak for Western ﬁrms to justify investing their record cash piles, at least at home. What links these two phenomena is the meteoric rise of China as the workshop of the world after Beijing joined the World Trade Organisation in late 2001. “That changed the world. That

for me was basically the start of this globalisation process,” hedgefund manager Stephen Jen told a recent Reuters BreakingViews conference. ‘Self-inﬂicted disaster’ With Beijing repressing domestic consumption and holding down the yuan’s exchange rate to give it a competitive edge in world markets, foreign direct investment (FDI) had poured into China to take advantage of cheap labour, land and other inputs.

INDIA STOCKS

Rupee depreciates Indian stocks climb most in Asia as MUMBAI: India’s rupee completed its ﬁrst monthly loss since August as policy makers wound down emergency measures taken to support the currency when it plummeted to an unprecedented low. Oil importers, the nation’s largest purchasers of foreign exchange, are meeting most of their dollar needs in the local market, Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan on said November 13. The monetary authority’s offer of discounted swaps for foreign currency raised by banks is due to expire today, after attracting about $25 billion. The rupee weakened 1.5 per cent this month to 62.45 per dollar in Mumbai, according to prices from local banks compiled by Bloomberg. The currency, which touched a record low of 68.8450 on August 28, dropped 0.1 per cent yesterday, paring gains for the week to 0.7 per cent. “The swap window’s closing has put some pressure on the exchange rate but the measures have also helped the RBI garner resources to defend the currency

if needed,” said Paresh Nayar, head of currency and money markets at FirstRand Ltd. in Mumbai. “For next month, the rupee is likely to take cues from the growth numbers tonight.” GDP in Asia’s third-largest economy probably increased 4.6 per cent from a year earlier in the three months ended Sept. 30, compared with a 4.4 per cent gain in the previous quarter, according to the median of 44 estimates in a Bloomberg survey of economists. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said last week strong jobs data next month could boost the chances of the monetary authority tapering stimulus in December. The $85 billion of bond purchases boosted the ﬂow of funds to emerging markets. One-month implied volatility in the rupee, a gauge of expected moves in the exchange rate used to price options, jumped 263 basis points, or 2.63 percentage points, this month to 12.23 per cent. The rate declined eight basis points yesterday. — Bloomberg News

banks and capital goods advance MUMBAI: India’s benchmark stock index rose, paring its ﬁrst monthly decline since August, as lenders and capital goods companies advanced before the government releases economic growth ﬁgures. State Bank of India climbed to a one-week high. Bharat Heavy Electricals gained for a second day, helping a gauge of capital goods makers rally for a third month on speculation victories for the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party in upcoming elections may lead to faster approvals for governmentrelated projects. Gujarat-based Adani Enterprises rallied to its highest level since January. The S&P BSE Sensex rallied 1.3 per cent to 20,791.93 at the close, paring the month’s loss to 1.8 per cent. Data yesterday may show India’s economy probably expanded 4.6 per cent from a year earlier in the quarter ended September versus 4.4 per cent in the

previous three months, according to a Bloomberg survey. CLSA AsiaPaciﬁc Markets said this month the markets favor the BJP over the ruling Congress-led alliance. “There is a possibility of the poll results favoring the market sentiment,” Gaurang Shah, assistant vice president at Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services, said on Bloomberg TV India. “We are positive on the markets.” ‘Project clearances’ Bharat Heavy rallied to a fourmonth high. L&T, the largest engineering company, climbed 2.3 per cent, its sixth day of gains. Gujarat-based Adani Enterprises has doubled after falling to more than a four-year low on September 4. The S&P BSE India Capital Goods Index has rebounded 42 per cent from its lowest level since April 2009 reached on September 3. “There is expectation that a BJP-led government would fast-

track project clearances, which will directly beneﬁt infrastructure and capital goods companies,” Taher Badshah, co-head of equities at Motilal Oswal Asset Management, said by phone from Mumbai yesterday. Last month, a Times Now and C-voter survey found an alliance led by the BJP under Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi will top Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s ruling coalition in the 2014 polls. Neither the BJP nor Singh’s Congress will be in a position to form a government on its own as both will fall short of a majority, the opinion poll showed. Copper producer Sesa Sterlite jumped 4.6 per cent, the biggest gainer on the Sensex, while aluminum maker Hindalco Industries added 1.1 per cent. The benchmark Sensex is up seven per cent this year, the best performer among the four largest emerging markets and trades

at 13.6 times projected 12-month earnings, compared with the MSCI Emerging Markets Index’s 10.7 times. The Indian gauge rose 2.8 per cent this week, ending three weeks of losses. Foreigners have bought a net $977 million of stocks this month, its third straight monthly inﬂow, even as they pulled a combined $1.96 billion from Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia this month, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Overseas investors have bought $17.3 billion of Indian shares this year, the most in Asia after Japan, the data show. The CNX Nifty Index increased 1.4 per cent to 6,176.10. The India VIX rose 3.2 per cent. — Bloomberg News

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LIFE & STYLE

S AT URDAY, NOVE M B E R 3 0, 2 0 1 3

GRUESOME CRUELTY ON ANIMALS EXPOSED Agency tasked with monitoring safety covered up injuries and deaths on movie sets a number of times

t’s the comforting, post-credits pledge that lets animal lovers enjoy their favourite movies without worrying that anyone really killed Kevin Costner’s horse or Tom Hanks’ dog. But now it seems the slogan “no animals were harmed” is not always to be believed after the publication of a report claiming animal cruelty is still rife in Hollywood. A number of animals were injured or killed during the production of some of last year’s biggest blockbusters, including Life of Pi and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, while the HBO horse-racing drama Luck was cancelled after four horses died during ﬁlming. The report by The Hollywood Reporter accuses the American Humane Association (AHA) – the issuer of the familiar “no animals were harmed” credit – of not only failing to protect animals on set, but also of covering up those lapses. The real-life Bengal tiger that played the circus animal “Richard Parker” in the director Ang Lee’s

acclaimed Life of Pi was reported to have almost “drowned” during a sequence that was shot in a water tank in Taiwan; the report claims the animal was snagged with a catch rope and dragged to the side of the tank. The Oscar-winning ﬁlm was awarded the “no animals were harmed” stamp, despite an AHA official having witnessed the incident. Gina Johnson, a representative for the AHA, described the tiger’s mistreatment in an e-mail to a colleague in 2011. “This one take with him just went really bad and he got lost trying to swim to the side. Damn near drowned,” she wrote. “I think this goes without saying but don’t mention anything to anyone!” The report also claims the AHA neglected to investigate animal cruelty that took place on a New Zealand farm during the ﬁlming of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in 2011, when 27 animals – including sheep and goats – reportedly perished from dehydra-

ANIMAL CRUELTY: FILMS’ RECENT RECORD

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012). Twenty seven animals including goats and sheep were said to have perished from dehydration, exhaustion or drowning on a New Zealand farm during ﬁlming.

Zookeeper (2011) An elderly giraffe died during the movie’s production run. Eight Below Zero (2006) A huskie was beaten during filming, and given five punches to its diaphragm. Force was also used to break up a dog fight.

tion, exhaustion or drowning. An animal trainer working on the film informed an AHA official of the fatalities in 2012, but was told the lack of physical evidence would make it hard to investigate the claim further. When the trainer replied that he had buried the animals himself and knew of their location, the AHA representative told him that because the deaths had taken place off-set, it could not officiate. The film was later given the carefully worded credit that noted it “monitored all of the significant animal action. No animals were harmed during such action”. These recent incidents of animal neglect are not isolated. According to the report, a husky dog was punched in the diaphragm on Disney’s 2006 film Eight Below, a chipmunk was fatally squashed in the 2006 comedy Failure to Launch, starring Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker, and dozens of dead fish and squid were washed ashore during the filming of Pi-

rates of the Caribbean in 2003. In a statement, the AHA denied the allegations made in the report and said it could only bear responsibility for an animal’s welfare while it was on a ﬁlm set. “Far from allowing abuse or neglect to occur, we have a remarkably high safety record of 99.98 per cent on set,” the AHA said. “Despite our best efforts, there have occasionally been rare accidents, most of them minor and not intentional.” Writing to condemn the animal deaths during production on The Hobbit last year, Dr Robin Ganzert, the chief executive of the AHA, said: “We do not have either the jurisdiction or funding to extend oversight to activities or conditions off-set or before animals come under our protection. “There are too many incidents off the set and this must stop. It is vital that we work with the industry to bring the kind of protection we have for animals during ﬁlming to all phases of production.” - Daisy Wyatt/Tim Walef/The Independent

S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 3 0, 2 01 3

PRAYER TIMINGS

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

Y O U R B I R T H D AY

BORN today, you seem to be attracted to both people and situations that are not what they seem to be, as well as those that offer you perhaps more danger and excitement than one person should ever have to face! This, however, is precisely the kind of thing that really turns you on, that gets your wheels turning and that has you eager to dive into things head-ﬁrst. Not for you the kind of routine, safe, predictable endeavours that satisfy most others. You have a romantic streak that drives you to court adventure, and you are eager to rush in and save those in need of salvation. You aren’t the kind, however, to fall in and out of love quickly or easily. Indeed, your romantic habits can be called neither quick nor easy! You can be quite stubborn, in fact, and others may think your heart is completely invulnerable. Not true! You simply have high standards, and you are not about to settle. Also born on this date are: Shirley Chisholm, politician; Virginia Mayo, actress; June Pointer, singer; Sir Winston Churchill, English prime minister; Mark Twain, author; Dick Clark, TV and music host; Robert Guillaume, actor; Ridley Scott, ﬁlmmaker.

12.00pm 3.04pm 5.25pm 6.39pm 5.12am

Sunset Sunrise (Tomorrow) High tide Low tide

5.19pm 6.31am

1.08am 6.02pm

FIND-IT-ALL

11.55am 7.13am

W E AT H E R

AIRLINES

loudy to partly cloudy skies over Governorates of Musandam and the coastal areas of Oman Sea with chances of isolated rain along coastal areas of Oman Sea. Mainly clear skies over the rest of the Sultanate with chance of cloud development over Al Hajar mountains towards afternoon. EXPECTED WINDS: Northerly to northwesterly light to moderate over most of the Sultanate. SEA STATE: Slight to moderate over most of Oman’s coast

with maximum wave height of 1.5 metres. HORIZONTAL VISIBILITY: Good over most of the Sultanate. THE NEXT 48 HOURS: Clear to partly cloudy skies over the coastal areas with chance of isolated rain over Governorate of Musandam. zThe weather data could not be updated because of technical difficulties.

Max

OMAN

WORLD

Max 38 Min 33 Max 3 Min 2

Max 27 Min 11

Max 35 Min 28 Max 9 Min 4

Max 34 Min 29

Max -5 Min -7

Max 41 Min 26

Max 42 Min 29

Max 41 Min 26

Max 36 Min 29

SAGITTARIUS S [[NOV. 22-DEC. 21] You’ll begin a new, productive, but not always harmonious relationship with someone who has perhaps just arrived on the scene.

Max 31 Min 17

Max 28 Min 25

Max 23 Min 12

Max 29 Min 24 Max 21 Min 14

Source: www.met.gov.om

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI)

[DEC. 22-JAN 19] You are interested in having your ideas tried out by more than just your inner circle. This is likely to demand some real marketing.

AQUARIUS [JAN. 20-FEB. 18] You’ll arrive at a new level of sincerity as a result of your connection with someone who shares your principles and ideals.

PISCES [FEB. 19-MARCH 20] A new opportunity presents itself, and you’ll want to be sure you are ready to move in any direction that it requires.

ARIES [MARCH 21-APRIL 19] Don’t let the mistakes another is making distract you from what you have to accomplish.

TAURUS [APRIL 20-MAY 20] You’ll want to explain what is going on to those who have been unaware of your machinations from the beginning. It’s time to come clean.

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

GULF Abu Dhabi Doha Dubai Kuwait Manama Riyadh

28 27 29 27 25 27

19 19 20 17 20 12

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

16 21 9 6 1 23 31 4 20 11 27 33 16 10 22 31 14 2

14 10 3 3 1 17 24 0 14 9 15 24 9 9 11 25 9 1

TO AL BURAIMI (Route 41) 06:30 Sohar 06:30 Buraimi 08:00 Buraimi 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Buraimi 16.00 Sohar 16.00 Buraimi TO SINAW (Route 52) 17:30 Sinaw

[MAY 21-JUNE 20] It’s a good time for you to reveal just a bit of what you have been keeping to yourself. This will increase interest and pay off later.

CANCER [JUNE 21-JULY 22] There are more possibilities lining themselves up than you know how to count. A productive period is beginning.

LEO [JULY 23-AUG. 22] You may have to perform something of a magic act in order to keep others from seeing what you really have going on in plain sight.

VIRGO [AUG. 23-SEPT. 22] The known and the unknown will compete for your attention throughout the day. Give yourself time to recover from an unexpected exertion.

LIBRA L [[SEPT. [S S 23-OCT. 22] What happened some time ago is likely to affect things very directly, so you’ll have to deal with yesterday and today all at once.

SCORPIO S [[OCT. 23-NOV. 21] Someone is going to give you a very straightforward assignment, but you may baulk when you realise that there’s little in it for you.

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

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

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

20:50

Daily

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

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

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

10:25

Daily

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

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

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

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

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

10:20 12:30

Daily Daily

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

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

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

12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

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

10:45 19:00

Daily Daily

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

10:30 11:15

Daily Daily

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

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

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

Daily Daily Daily Daily

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

Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101) 06:00 Marmul

Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101) 06:00 Marmul

16:30

Daily

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

Daily

16:50

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

GEMINI

TO MUSCAT (RUWI)

Operating Days Daily Daily Daily

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

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

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

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

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

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

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

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

LISTINGS

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

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

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

SATURDAY

Min

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

CAPRICORN

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

FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

PK259 WY676 WY682 WY816 WY636 9W540 WY924 BG021 4H583 PK225 EY384 GF560 ET624 EK866 QR1132 FZ041 MS930 TK778 WY412 WY674 WY686 WY638 WY902 WY668 WY658 WY114 WY644 WY122 WY154 WY432 WY142 WY132 WY602 FZ043 WY202 WY102 WY422 WY274 WY236 WY268 G9114 WY282 WY252 EK862 EY382 QR1128 9W530 IX443 WY604 WY926 PK191 WY242 WY904 WY3302 IX337 WY606 WY324 WY632 WY906 WY918 FZ045 WY346 PA450 WY328 WY3926 MP95 WY204 WY292 WY3304 WY246 WY610 WY232 WY216 GF564 4H561 G9116 WY914 WY614 FZ047 CV856 SV532 WY3902 KL441 WY312 WY224 WY624 AI973 6.00E+81 QR1130 WY386 9W534 WY254 AI907 WY374 NL771 WY338 GF566 BA073 WY916 WY814 EY388 AI985 WY662 LX242 QR1134 WY654 WY116 WY717 LH618 WY612 WY406 WY928 WY696 WY648 WY636

SUNDAY ETA

FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

LAHORE-ISLAM ABBAD 0005 JEDDAH 0005 RIYADH 0010 BANGKOK 0010 ABU DHABI 0025 BOMBAY 0040 SALALAH 0105 DACCA-CHITTAGONG 0130 DACCA 0130 KARACHI 0200 ABU DHABI 0330 BAHRAIN 0335 ADDIS ABABA 0350 DUBAI 0355 DOHA 0405 DUBAI 0415 CAIRO 0450 ISLAM ABBAD-BAHRAIN 0605 AMMAN 0610 JEDDAH 0615 RIYADH 0645 ABU DHABI 0650 SALALAH 0655 DOHA 0700 BAHRAIN 0700 FRANKFURT 0705 KUWAIT 0705 MUNICH 0705 ZURICH 0720 TEHRAN 0730 MALPENSA 0740 PARIS 0750 DUBAI 0800 DUBAI 0800 BOMBAY 0805 LONDON HEATHROW 0820 BEIRUT 0820 JAIPUR 0850 HYDERABAD 0910 LUCKNOW 0915 SHARJAH 0915 BANGALORE 0925 MADRAS 0940 DUBAI 0940 ABU DHABI 0955 DOHA 1010 TRIVANDRUM 1035 COCHIN 1050 DUBAI 1105 SALALAH 1150 TURBAT 1215 DELHI 1220 SALALAH 1225 MUKHAIZNA 1230 CALICUT 1305 DUBAI 1330 KARACHI 1340 ABU DHABI 1345 SALALAH 1425 KHASAB 1440 DUBAI 1545 ISLAM ABBAD 1600 LAHORE 1630 LAHORE 1650 SALALAH 1650 AMSTERDAM 1700 BOMBAY 1700 CALICUT 1705 MUKHAIZNA 1730 DELHI 1740 DUBAI 1740 HYDERABAD 1740 TRIVANDRUM 1750 BAHRAIN 1810 DACCA 1900 SHARJAH 1915 SALALAH 1930 DUBAI 2025 DUBAI 2055 LUXORE 2100 JEDDAH 2105 SALALAH 2105 AMSTERDAM-DOHA 2115 CHITTAGONG 2115 COCHIN 2120 DUBAI 2120 DELHI 2125 BOMBAY 2130 DOHA 2135 MALE 2135 COCHIN 2140 MADRAS 2145 MADRAS 2200 COLOMBO 2210 PESHAWAR 2230 KATHMANDU 2235 BAHRAIN 2240 LONDON HEATHROW-ABU DHABI 2240 SALALAH 2245 BANGKOK 2245 ABU DHABI 2300 AHMEDABAD-BOMBAY 2310 DOHA 2315 ZURICH-DUBAI 2320 DOHA 2320 BAHRAIN 2325 FRANKFURT 2325 ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM 2325 FRANKFURT-ABU DHABI 2330 DUBAI 2330 CAIRO 2340 SALALAH 2350 DAMMAM 2355 KUWAIT 2355 ABU DHABI 2355

WY676 WY682 WY816 WY924 9W540 WY824 BG021 WY3904 TK776 EY384 GF560 ET624 EK866 QR1132 FZ041 NL669 WY674 WY686 WY638 WY902 WY668 WY658 WY324 WY432 FZ043 WY602 WY202 WY102 WY274 NL768 WY236 G9114 WY346 WY226 WY212 WY252 EK862 EY382 QR1128 9W530 WY3302 WY604 WY3922 WY372 WY242 WY904 IX549 IX337 WY632 QR8550 WY906 WY918 WY918 IX817 WY812 FZ045 WY656 WY328 WY204 WY292 WY264 WY246 WY232 WY610 WY284 QR1126 GF564 WY664 WY3306 G9116 WY914 TG507 WY614 WY406 WY144 FZ047 WY648 WY152 WY312 KL441 AI973 6.00E+81 QR1130 9W534 WY254 AI907 UL205 BA073 GF566 WY916 WY134 EY388 WY124 AI985 WY662 LX242 QR1134 WY116 WY717 LH618 WY612 WY3902 WY654 WY928 WY636 WY696

JEDDAH 0005 RIYADH 0010 BANGKOK 0010 SALALAH 0035 BOMBAY 0040 KUALA LUMPUR 0045 DACCA-CHITTAGONG 0130 SALALAH 0220 ISTANBUL-BAHRAIN 0300 ABU DHABI 0330 BAHRAIN 0335 ADDIS ABABA 0350 DUBAI 0355 DOHA 0405 DUBAI 0415 SIALKOT 0600 JEDDAH 0635 RIYADH 0645 ABU DHABI 0650 SALALAH 0655 DOHA 0700 BAHRAIN 0700 KARACHI 0720 TEHRAN 0730 DUBAI 0800 DUBAI 0800 BOMBAY 0805 LONDON HEATHROW 0820 JAIPUR 0850 LAHORE 0900 HYDERABAD 0910 SHARJAH 0915 ISLAM ABBAD 0920 COCHIN 0925 TRIVANDRUM 0930 MADRAS 0940 DUBAI 0940 ABU DHABI 0955 DOHA 1010 TRIVANDRUM 1035 MUKHAIZNA 1045 DUBAI 1105 JAALUNI 1110 COLOMBO 1135 DELHI 1220 SALALAH 1225 TRIVANDRUM 1230 CALICUT 1305 ABU DHABI 1345 DOHA 1425 SALALAH 1425 KHASAB 1440 KHASAB 1440 MANGALORE-ABU DHABI 1440 BANGKOK 1500 DUBAI 1545 BAHRAIN 1555 LAHORE 1650 BOMBAY 1700 CALICUT 1705 LUCKNOW 1715 DELHI 1740 HYDERABAD 1740 DUBAI 1740 BANGALORE 1740 DOHA 1745 BAHRAIN 1810 DOHA 1825 MUKHAIZNA 1845 SHARJAH 1915 SALALAH 1930 BANGKOK-KARACHI 1935 DUBAI 2025 CAIRO 2025 MALPENSA 2045 DUBAI 2055 KUWAIT 2055 ZURICH 2110 CHITTAGONG 2115 AMSTERDAM-DOHA 2115 DELHI 2125 BOMBAY 2130 DOHA 2135 COCHIN 2140 MADRAS 2145 MADRAS 2200 COLOMBO 2225 LONDON HEATHROW-ABU DHABI 2240 BAHRAIN 2240 SALALAH 2245 PARIS 2250 ABU DHABI 2300 MUNICH 2310 AHMEDABAD-BOMBAY 2310 DOHA 2315 ZURICH-DUBAI 2320 DOHA 2320 FRANKFURT 2325 ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM 2325 FRANKFURT-ABU DHABI 2330 DUBAI 2330 SALALAH 2335 BAHRAIN 2335 SALALAH 2350 ABU DHABI 2355 DAMMAM 2355

FLT NO

DEPARTURES TO

FLT NO

DEPARTURES TO

AI986 QR1135 LX243 BA072 SG062 LH619 PK260 WY251 WY685 WY267 WY201 WY431 WY281 9W539 WY235 WY643 WY601 WY273 WY901 WY115 WY657 WY637 WY667 4H584 PK226 BG022 ET625 EK867 FZ042 WY241 QR1133 EY385 MS931 TK779 GF561 WY925 WY3301 WY603 WY903 FZ044 WY813 WY345 WY323 WY823 WY291 WY215 G9115 WY815 WY231 WY905 WY327 WY385 WY373 WY605 WY631 WY245 WY203 WY311 WY717 EY383 EK863 QR1129 9W533 WY917 IX442 WY337 WY3925 PK192 WY253 WY223 WY3303 WY101 IX350 WY405 WY927 WY609 WY913 FZ046 WY675 WY3901 PA451 WY623 MP95 WY647 WY915 WY681 GF565 WY653 WY661 WY695 G9117 4H561 WY923 WY611 WY635 FZ048 SV533 WY3903 WY673 KL442 CV856 9W529 6.00E+82 QR1131 AI908 AI974 GF567 NL668 EY381

BOMBAY 0005 DOHA 0020 DUBAI-ZURICH 0020 ABU DHABI-LONDON HEATHROW 0025 AHMEDABAD 0030 ABU DHABI-FRANKFURT 0050 ISLAM ABBAD-LAHORE 0105 MADRAS 0115 RIYADH 0120 LUCKNOW 0120 BOMBAY 0130 TEHRAN 0130 BANGALORE 0140 BOMBAY 0140 HYDERABAD 0145 KUWAIT 0150 DUBAI 0155 JAIPUR 0155 SALALAH 0200 FRANKFURT 0210 BAHRAIN 0220 ABU DHABI 0230 DOHA 0230 DUBAI-DACCA 0245 KARACHI 0255 CHITTAGONG-DACCA 0300 ADDIS ABABA 0450 DUBAI 0455 DUBAI 0500 DELHI 0510 DOHA 0520 ABU DHABI 0525 CAIRO 0545 BAHRAIN-ISTANBUL 0655 BAHRAIN 0745 SALALAH 0745 MUKHAIZNA 0800 DUBAI 0805 SALALAH 0820 DUBAI 0840 BANGKOK 0855 ISLAM ABBAD 0920 KARACHI 0920 KUALA LUMPUR 0925 CALICUT 0925 TRIVANDRUM 0930 SHARJAH 0955 BANGKOK 1010 HYDERABAD 1015 SALALAH 1020 LAHORE 1020 MALE 1025 COLOMBO 1025 DUBAI 1030 ABU DHABI 1035 DELHI 1035 BOMBAY 1040 CHITTAGONG 1040 ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM 1040 ABU DHABI 1055 DUBAI 1055 DOHA 1115 COCHIN 1135 KHASAB 1140 COCHIN 1150 KATHMANDU 1205 SALALAH 1250 TURBAT-GWADUR 1300 MADRAS 1320 COCHIN 1320 MUKHAIZNA 1330 LONDON HEATHROW 1340 CALICUT 1405 CAIRO 1430 SALALAH 1430 DUBAI 1440 SALALAH 1525 DUBAI 1630 JEDDAH 1635 SALALAH 1700 LAHORE 1730 DUBAI 1820 DUBAI WORLD CENTRE 1830 KUWAIT 1840 SALALAH 1840 RIYADH 1845 BAHRAIN 1855 BAHRAIN 1920 DOHA 1920 DAMMAM 1930 SHARJAH 1955 JEDDAH 2015 SALALAH 2030 DUBAI 2030 ABU DHABI 2050 DUBAI 2140 RIYADH-JEDDAH 2205 SALALAH 2215 JEDDAH 2220 DOHA-AMSTERDAM 2225 HONG KONG 2230 TRIVANDRUM 2240 BOMBAY 2245 DOHA 2245 MADRAS 2300 DELHI 2310 BAHRAIN 2325 SIALKOT 2330 ABU DHABI 2350

AI986 LX243 QR1135 BA072 WY811 LH619 WY251 WY685 WY211 WY225 WY201 WY431 9W539 WY151 WY235 WY371 WY601 WY273 WY901 WY115 WY133 WY345 WY123 WY657 WY323 WY637 WY667 WY143 BG022 TK777 ET625 EK867 FZ042 WY241 QR1133 EY385 NL772 WY3301 WY3921 GF561 WY603 WY903 FZ044 WY263 WY291 G9115 WY283 WY231 WY905 WY327 NL769 WY605 WY631 WY245 WY311 WY717 WY203 EK863 EY383 QR1129 WY3303 WY405 9W533 WY917 WY655 WY331 WY253 WY413 IX554 WY101 IX350 WY663 WY927 WY609 WY3305 WY913 IX818 QR8551 FZ046 WY675 WY613 WY623 WY915 WY647 QR1127 WY681 GF565 WY661 WY653 WY695 G9117 WY923 WY611 TG508 WY635 FZ048 WY825 WY673 KL442 WY817 9W529 QR1131 6.00E+82 AI908 AI974 GF567 UL206 EY381

BOMBAY 0005 DUBAI-ZURICH 0020 DOHA 0020 ABU DHABI-LONDON HEATHROW 0025 BANGKOK 0040 ABU DHABI-FRANKFURT 0050 MADRAS 0115 RIYADH 0120 TRIVANDRUM 0120 COCHIN 0125 BOMBAY 0130 TEHRAN 0130 BOMBAY 0140 ZURICH 0145 HYDERABAD 0145 COLOMBO 0150 DUBAI 0155 JAIPUR 0155 SALALAH 0200 FRANKFURT 0210 PARIS 0210 ISLAM ABBAD 0210 MUNICH 0215 BAHRAIN 0220 KARACHI 0220 ABU DHABI 0230 DOHA 0230 MALPENSA 0230 ZYLHET-DACCA 0300 BAHRAIN-ISTANBUL 0350 ADDIS ABABA 0450 DUBAI 0455 DUBAI 0500 DELHI 0510 DOHA 0520 ABU DHABI 0525 PESHAWAR 0700 MUKHAIZNA 0715 JAALUNI 0725 BAHRAIN 0745 DUBAI 0805 SALALAH 0820 DUBAI 0840 LUCKNOW 0920 CALICUT 0925 SHARJAH 0955 BANGALORE 1000 HYDERABAD 1015 SALALAH 1020 LAHORE 1020 LAHORE 1030 DUBAI 1030 ABU DHABI 1035 DELHI 1035 CHITTAGONG 1040 ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM 1040 BOMBAY 1040 DUBAI 1055 ABU DHABI 1055 DOHA 1115 MUKHAIZNA 1115 CAIRO 1120 COCHIN 1135 KHASAB 1140 BAHRAIN 1150 KATHMANDU 1235 MADRAS 1320 AMMAN 1325 TRIVANDRUM 1330 LONDON HEATHROW 1340 CALICUT 1405 DOHA 1430 SALALAH 1430 DUBAI 1440 MUKHAIZNA 1515 SALALAH 1525 MANGALORE 1530 DUBAI-DOHA 1555 DUBAI 1630 JEDDAH 1635 DUBAI 1705 DUBAI 1820 SALALAH 1840 KUWAIT 1840 DOHA 1845 RIYADH 1845 BAHRAIN 1855 DOHA 1920 BAHRAIN 1920 DAMMAM 1930 SHARJAH 1955 SALALAH 2030 DUBAI 2030 KARACHI-BANGKOK 2040 ABU DHABI 2050 DUBAI 2140 KUALA LUMPUR 2150 JEDDAH 2220 DOHA-AMSTERDAM 2225 BANGKOK 2235 TRIVANDRUM 2240 DOHA 2245 BOMBAY 2245 MADRAS 2300 DELHI 2310 BAHRAIN 2325 COLOMBO 2335 ABU DHABI 2350

ETD

ETA

ETD

PRAYER TIMINGS

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

Y O U R B I R T H D AY

12.00pm 3.04pm 5.25pm 6.39pm 5.12am

Sunset Sunrise (Tomorrow) High tide Low tide

5.19pm 6.31am

1.08am 6.02pm

FIND-IT-ALL

11.55am 7.13am

W E AT H E R

AIRLINES

Max

Max 38 Min 33 Max 3 Min 2

Max 27 Min 11

Max 35 Min 28 Max 9 Min 4

Max 34 Min 29

Max -5 Min -7

Max 41 Min 26

Max 42 Min 29

Max 41 Min 26

Max 36 Min 29

SAGITTARIUS S [[NOV. 22-DEC. 21] You’ll begin a new, productive, but not always harmonious relationship with someone who has perhaps just arrived on the scene.

Max 31 Min 17

Max 28 Min 25

Max 23 Min 12

Max 29 Min 24 Max 21 Min 14

Source: www.met.gov.om

GULF Abu Dhabi Doha Dubai Kuwait Manama Riyadh

28 27 29 27 25 27

19 19 20 17 20 12

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

16 21 9 6 1 23 31 4 20 11 27 33 16 10 22 31 14 2

14 10 3 3 1 17 24 0 14 9 15 24 9 9 11 25 9 1

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

CAPRICORN

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI)

[DEC. 22-JAN 19] You are interested in having your ideas tried out by more than just your inner circle. This is likely to demand some real marketing.

AQUARIUS [JAN. 20-FEB. 18] You’ll arrive at a new level of sincerity as a result of your connection with someone who shares your principles and ideals.

PISCES [FEB. 19-MARCH 20] A new opportunity presents itself, and you’ll want to be sure you are ready to move in any direction that it requires.

ARIES [MARCH 21-APRIL 19] Don’t let the mistakes another is making distract you from what you have to accomplish.

TAURUS [APRIL 20-MAY 20] You’ll want to explain what is going on to those who have been unaware of your machinations from the beginning. It’s time to come clean.

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

[MAY 21-JUNE 20] It’s a good time for you to reveal just a bit of what you have been keeping to yourself. This will increase interest and pay off later.

CANCER [JUNE 21-JULY 22] There are more possibilities lining themselves up than you know how to count. A productive period is beginning.

LEO [JULY 23-AUG. 22] You may have to perform something of a magic act in order to keep others from seeing what you really have going on in plain sight.

VIRGO [AUG. 23-SEPT. 22] The known and the unknown will compete for your attention throughout the day. Give yourself time to recover from an unexpected exertion.

LIBRA L [[SEPT. [S S 23-OCT. 22] What happened some time ago is likely to affect things very directly, so you’ll have to deal with yesterday and today all at once.

SCORPIO S [[OCT. 23-NOV. 21] Someone is going to give you a very straightforward assignment, but you may baulk when you realise that there’s little in it for you.

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

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

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

20:50

Daily

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

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

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

10:25

Daily

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

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

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

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

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

10:20 12:30

Daily Daily

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

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

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

12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

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

10:45 19:00

Daily Daily

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

10:30 11:15

Daily Daily

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

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

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

Daily Daily Daily Daily

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

Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101) 06:00 Marmul

Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101) 06:00 Marmul

16:30

Daily

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

Daily

16:50

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

GEMINI

TO MUSCAT (RUWI)

Operating Days Daily Daily Daily

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

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

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

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

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

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

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

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

LISTINGS

SATURDAY

Min

FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

SUNDAY ETA

FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

FLT NO

DEPARTURES TO

FLT NO

DEPARTURES TO

ETD

ETA

ETD

S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 30, 2 0 1 3

EXTRA NEW WORD BORN

The new ‘Selﬁes’

LET THERE BE LIGHT Fashion world’s current obsession with optics has produced some of the hottest ﬁnishes

“SELFIE” IS THE NEWLY crowned champion word of the year by Oxford Dictionaries. It means a photograph taken of oneself by oneself but usually not for oneself - rather for the whole world - on a cellphone camera. Many “selfies” look like their subjects are singing an aria or welcoming a guest or hailing a cab, because of the necessarily outstretched arm that precedes the hand that precedes the finger that clicks the picture, often after a previous, poorly aimed picture of one’s feet or something more embarrassing. Delete. I don’t know. It seems like an embarrassing word to me, on the baby-talk side of talk, and destined for the etymological trash basket that is already brimming with “jeggings,” “man cave,” “chillax,” “locovore,” etc. Actually, it’s “locavore,” for someone who diligently eats local produce, most often kale, but here now I give you “locovore,” for a person who is completely obsessed with being a “locavore.” But let’s say “selfie” is here to stay, and think of the more elaborate neologisms it might spawn.

Maybe “selfie-regard,” for the attitude of someone who has a high opinion of his own selfies. “Selfieabuse,” for someone who takes and posts too many selfies. “Selfie-ish,” for someone who will look only at his own selfies. “Me, myselfie and I” - not sure how it would be used but it was hard to resist. “To thine own selfie be true,” meaning “don’t say the selfie is of someone else just because it’s so ugly.” OK, now, let’s be serious about ourselfies. Ourselvesies? (It’s going to be hard, evidently. In fact, I just gave up.) There is something perfect about the choice, despite how lame it is, for what better word to select for an era of such widespread social-media self-promotion? (And by the way, “social media” is at least halfway to oxymoronhood.) Soon enough “selfies” will be history and we’ll be on to something more absurd. In fact, it must already be happening: People asking other people to take pictures of them taking pictures of themselves and posting the Möbius-like result as - what? I’m sure there will be a word for it tomorrow. – Daniel Mel-

this season using the tricks of the light

anker/ The New York Times News Service

B O L LY W O O D

Mandira Bedi draws huge applause for her role in ‘24’

NINETEEN YEARS after she made her TV debut in the Doordarshan serial Shanti, Mandira Bedi, looking better than ever before, has struck back into the idiot box with her RAW agent act in 24. She says she is surprised by her character Nikita Rai’s popularity. “There is no getting away from the serial’s impact. Everywhere I go, people insist on calling out ‘Nikita’, just as they used to shout out ‘Shanti’ 19 years ago when they saw me in public,” said Mandira. “Believe me, I am as bowled over by the serial as any one else. I am conﬁned mostly to one section of the goings-on during shooting, so I haven’t even met many of the cast members.” “I don’t know how the episodes ﬁnally look. So, I watch

them from the edge of my seat with my husband Raj (Kaushal) and son Vir, like the rest of the nation. Everyone seems to enjoy 24 to the hilt except maybe her little son who finds “mom” missing during bedtime. Mandira’s voice melts with maternal longing when she says, “For the last five days, we’ve been shooting nights and my son has to make do without me. He (usually) sleeps with his arms tightly around me. So, while I am sleuthing on the sets as Nikita, I am also wondering how my son is coping without me,” Mandira said. “Of course, my husband is extremely supportive. But so far whenever I was asked what it feels like to balance out a career with my domestic responsibilities, my response was academic. Now I finally know how painful it is for a mother to be working when her child needs her.” But, no complaints! Mandira is in top shape in every which way right now. “I think I look and feel far better now than I did when I acted in Shanti 19 years ago,” she said. Mandira has only auditioned for two roles in her entire career. “One was for Shanti and the other is 24. And they’ve both proved careerdefining,” she said. And yes, the athletic side of Mandira will surface in the coming episodes of 24. — IANS

he light-refracting dress worn by Katy Perry to launch her Prism album last month didn’t just reﬂect the record’s title. It also tapped into fashion’s current obsession with optics. The trend had its origins last year in Christopher Kane’s rainbowhued Prism it-dress, but now it’s bigger and brighter, with clothes, accessories and make-up, too, all tripping the light fantastic. While colour is generally the last thing you’d expect to ﬁnd in an Alexander Wang show, this season, the designer slotted polarised glass lenses into grey, black and navy mohair knits for a futuristic shimmer, or spun his wool with opalescent

sequins to an eye-bending moiré effect. The prints at Hugo Boss owed much to the watery traces bleeding from a digitised kaleidoscope, while Anya Hindmarch’s gamesthemed collection of bags featured kaleidoscopic clutches complete with dizziness-inducing op-art spirals. As for Sophia Webster’s LFW presentation, she showed holographic heels and gladiator boots amid an enchanted forest tableau. Her models’ hair was plaited with rainbow twists like the horns on a bevy of unicorns – and just like the spectral waves of light bouncing off a prism. Even make-up has an iridescent quality to it. At Mary Katrantzou, MAC’s Val Garland created what

Roksanda Ilincic’s sculptural resort 14 dresses came cinched with iridescent belts reflecting the contrast-colour interiors of exaggerated sleeves

she called the “cellophane eye”, slicking lids with the brand’s yetto-be released pro gloss in mother of pearl – perfectly capturing the mood of the designer’s ghostly landscapes. And it’s not just a ﬂash in the pan, either. This is one fashion comet set to trail its wake right through to the spring. Roksanda Ilincic’s sculptural resort 14 dresses came cinched with iridescent belts reﬂecting the contrast-colour interiors of exaggerated sleeves. They were further accessorised with holographic giant clutch bags and completed with Nicholas Kirkwood’s perspex rainbow heels. Beam us up, planet fashion. — Stephanie Hirschmiller/The Independent

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

SECTION

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

RENT

VACANCY

* Expats only

CARGO

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

DAILY GUIDE

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

FOR RENT

Room for rent Al Khuwair.Contact 99743569

FOR SALE

2 BHK at North Azaiba, 2 Bedrooms, 1 hall & dining, kitchen, 3 bathrooms. Contact 99224748 / 99425665 2 Storey Villa, 11 rooms good for company accommodation. Contact 99664703 Rooms or Apartments attach bathroom in Qurum family or bachelors. Contact 99664703

3 independent Ware houses of 400,900 and 1200 SQM in Ghala area for rent. Contact 93731363 Single room flat for rent, Behind Kims Hospital Ruwi. #96659544 One BHK at Honda Road. #98087644 For rent : shops, basement location Honda Road.#96942749 / 92433127 2 BHK Flat opposite Lima house in Muttrah for Rent from December 1st week. Contact:99279359 3 rooms at Muttrah, 3 rooms attach bath, kitchen behind Baith Oman RO 270. Contact 99319149 3 BHK at Al Khodh Souq 3 bedrooms, 1 hall & dining, kitchen, 3 bathrooms. Contact 99224748 / 99332297 New Building: 2nd & 3rd floor 2nd Floor 4 big room 4 toilet, One living room and kitchen with A/C, 3rd Floor 3 big room, 3 toilet and kitchen & store with A/C in Al Amerat (Al Mahaj) near Al Rafa Hospital. # 99339735 1,2,3 BHK Flats & Villas. #92144045 Villa of one floor in Al Qurum 20 near to PDO with 3 rooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 sitting rooms with partition wall in between and kitchen. Contact 97897951

1 BHK with AC, MBD area commercial. Contact 92144045

2BHK apartment at the wave Muscat. Contact 99725900/99237971

1,2 BHK with AC, ISD School & ISM. Contact 92144045

1 & 2 BHK Al Qurum. # 99024730 4 BR Villa Al Ghubra. #99024730

2 BHK with AC, Ghubrah 325/RO. Contact 92144045 1 BHK with AC Wadikabir 210/-RO. Contact 92144045

Flat shop & Office for rent 1 Bedroom, 2 bedrooms at Ruwi Rex road & Hamriya. Contact 97236696

GF semi furnished ﬂat with A/C & parking 3BKH, 3 bath, 1 store Mumtaz, Ruwi, 500PM#99241044

New 3 Building in Darsait near to Muscat IS. Contact 99102255

2 BHK ﬂat for rent in Honda road, Ruwi and Mabela, split a/cs, lift, dish & security systems are available. Contact: 99367448 / 24833972/ 24833974.

Flat for rent 5 Bedrooms +1 office + Majlis at Al Hail behind Ramiz centre. Contact 99412719 Mubarak Family room in Al Khuwair. Contact 95933961 2 BHK flats in Al Khuwair. #97616158 Furnished 1BHK Darsait Indian bachelor R.O 180/-. #93289652 3BHK flat for rent in Ghubra. Contact 99792181 2BHK flat for rent in Al Khuwair. Contact 99792181 1BHK flat in Honda road. #99792181 For rent flats 1 BHK , 2BHK location Ruwi area, Honda Road. Contact 97293708 / 97331431 2BHK flats in Al Khuwair. Contact 99057348 / 99776071 Studio Flat RO 130 & 2 BHK Flat RO 200, behind Wadikabir Indian School. Contact 99376454

Office & residence at Al Hail North, after Al Bahjah, new building. Contact 99768094 2 BHK beautiful ﬂat with split A/Cs, near PDO Gate No. 2 at Qurum. Contact 94057023 Flat near Muscat IS Darsait. Contact 95158570

1 BHK ﬂat for rent in Mumtaz area, Way no. 3360, for Immediate occupancy rent RO 275/-.#96715569

1,2,3 BHK flats & Villas. #92144045 2 BHK & 1 BHK flats & shop space for rent in MBD area 1 BHK Flat & shop for rent in Wadi Adai area 1BHK flat & 350sq meter shop space available in Al Khoudh area. Contact 93994403/ 93994402 Home for rent Amerat with airconditioners 2 Council of +2 hall+3 Bedrooms SR 400 is required to continue 99357441 Villa for rent in Mawalih: villa with 2 rooms, 2 bathrooms, Majlis, kitchen with all the air condition. Contact 99174909

5 BHK Twin Villa for rent in Mabela with A/C. Contact 97890260 1 BHK with AC for Commercial MBD area. Contact 92144045 Shops, Basement Store, Wadi Al Kabeer. Contact 99441193 / 93004802 Independent Qurum/ Hail rooms. Contact 95529970 Spacious 2BHK, Opp. Oman House. R.O 250/-. Contact 95076261

Stores 14000 Sqm in Bousher (Al Masfa). Contact 95202430 Household items for sale Fridge, split AC, Single Bed, Dinning set etc. Contact 93194825 Used Barber shop furniture & equipments. Contact 99203954 Restaurant license with clearance. Contact 99865100 9 No’s of Split Unit A/C 1.5 ton for sale in Ruwi CBD Area. #98048952, 99235462, FAX 24799943 Running Parlour for sale in Muscat. Contact 98567238 / 95316155

Store 1250 Sqm2 in Bousher (Al Masfa). Contact 95202430

Well running elegantly furnished perfume shop with office at Qurum business district for sale 92163006

Residential/ Commercial Villa available at Qurum opposite rose garden Way no 1836, Villa no 2722 with 5 Bedroom + 2 sitting + Dining room. Contact 99363147

Ladies Parlour with new equipments for sale prime location- Al Ghubrah North & Al Amerat. Attractive price offer. Interested parties call 96761960.

1 BHK in Al Ghubrah South with E/W & AC Split & parking 360 RO. Contact 95811110

Spare parts shop for sale at Shell petrol pump in Barka, with wooden counter, racks, asking amount RO 5000/-. Contact 93535394

1 BHK with AC, MBD area. #92144045 A ﬂat in Al Amerat 1/5 ﬂoor consists of 3 rooms, Majlis, hall and 3 water closets for 300/- O.R. #95522405 3 BHK in Al Hail North. #99330385

1BHK ﬂat available at near Oman house at reasonable rent. Contact 93231403 1BHK RO 250/- adjacent to Indian Nursery Darsait Bldg #1619, way #1322. Contact 99476728 Spacious 2 BR Flat in Wadikabir. Contact 99713489 For rent Covered Storage area Al Khuwair area (1100 m2). Contact 94408361 Shop 110 SM near Honda rd signal. Contact 92123344

1 BHK with AC MBD area. #91162431 3 BHK Rex road 350/-RO last. Contact 91162431

We Have Villas, Flats, Shops, Offices for in Ghala, Bousher, Qurum, Ghubra good location. #93782735

Running Building material business for sale with showroom 105 sqmt & inventory of tiles sanitary etc. at mabella saneya lane 2. Contact 96402091.

1 BHK with AC & Curtains new bldg, near Khimji Mart MBD. Contact 99024039 / 99061408

New show room ﬂats store in Azaiba, Wadi Kabir. Contact 24485240/24485241/93651633

Villa in Wattaya 4 BHK. #95202430 Office spaces for rent in Al Hail on the main road, on the same building of Al Khamis Shoes at Al Hail 99870010 / 96177505

Villa for staff at Bousher 6 BHK. Contact 95202430

2 Houses ﬁrst line from the Beach at Kibwent Zanzibar RO 122000. Contact Owner 99348943

Shop and store in Mabaila. #99355330

Flat in Khoud, near Mazoon Mosque with 3 rooms + Majlis & kitchen, 3 toilets 350 RO. Contact 99738881

For sale king size bed with mattress & sofa3, +1,+1, TV stand with curios kindly. Contact 94106408

Labour Camp accommodation Ghala, Behind Komatsu.#99414644 / 93666201

Brake and axle repair shop for sale in Wadi Kabir Sanaya. Contact 93741151 / 99773190

Villa for at Amerat5/1, 5 bedrooms + Majlis + hall + 7 bathrooms + kitchen (with split A/Cs) for families. Contact 99203458

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

Villa of twin villa for rent with AC in Bowshar 4BR Majlis family hall maid room. Contact 99715495 1, 2 BHK and Studio Flat in Azaiba. Contact 97630529/ 99428143 2 BHK for rent in North Darsait. Contact 94101134

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

DAILY GUIDE

MANPOWER

ACC. AVAILABLE

GOOD NEWS

Art of living happiness program to relax your body and mind and to overcome stress through various breathing techniques from 2nd Dec’13 to 7th Dec’13 from 7:30 pm to 10:15 pm at Al Khuwair. Contact 94039695 / 95429685 Health, happiness and energy workshop free 2 hours workshop to learn practical breathing techniques to learn practical breathing techniques to handle mind and negative emotions. On 30th Nov 13 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at Al Khuwair. Contact 94039695 / 95429685 Genuine Ayurvedic treatments & massage, ayurvedic clinic, Al Khuwair. Contact 24478618/ 97263637/ 94008839 Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis, massage, steam bath, obesity, spandylitis etc, ideal care Ayurvedic, clinic Azaiba. Contact 99639695

Spacious room, independent bathroom, sharing kitchen in NEW building at Wadi Kabeer Opp. Al Maya Super Market, OR160 from 15th December. Contact 99038384 One room for rent in Al Khuwair, with A/C, bed & bathroom. Contact 99382008

Required Garage for rent Ghubrah, Ghala, Seeb 200 -300 Sq mts. Contact 94194038

Sharing accommodation available near Darsait Indian School (ISD) spacious room with passage and Bath attach.#98979124 / 93382451

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

Sharing one room for family in Hamriyah, rent RO 90/-. Contact Khalid 99639211 Accommodation for family in Ruwi. Contact 99865100 / 98653774 One bedroom with Hall, Balcony, Bathroom, toilet, sharing kitchen for Executive lady small family, near Life line Medical Centre. Contact 98076058/95807084 Accommodation available for Executive bachelor from December 2013, area Al Wadi Kabir near Walja Signal behind Honda road. Contact 99877104 Sharing room with separate bathroom for Indian bachelor near Muscat City Center. Contact 99855829 Furnished room for non cooking bachelor near Softy Ice cream, Ruwi. Contact 91066224 / 93786490

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

Furnished bachelor accommodation Wadikabir. Contact 93681617

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

Sharing accommodation available for an Executive Bachelor in a decent apartment in Al Khuwair. Contact 93209511

FOR LADIES Beauty parlour for rent/ sale, serious please contact 97163496

FOR SALE Running prime Café for sale or management. #95709427 / 95208505 Beauty Parlour for rent / sale in Al Hail. Contact 93740129

Spacious furnished room attached balcony near Al falaj hotel-Ruwi for Indian bachelor & room for lady (Al Maya Wadi kabir) - 96761960

Opp O.K. Centre. Single Bed space with attached Bathroom for Indian Non-cooking Exe. Bachelor. RO.75/incl. W&E. Contact 92605811. Opp O.K. Centre. Single Room with separate Bathroom for Indian Noncooking Exe. Bachelor. RO.120/- incl. W&E. Contact 99502581. Non cooking, Indian bachelor, opp. OK Center. Contact 99595733 Room for rent in Ruwi. #95372192

First Grade LLC Company. With full ﬂedged steel fabrication & painting unit. In addition highly specialized line of business & with construction activity for sale. #99858578 Shop for sale in Al Hamriyah. Contact 97333005

WANTED

Furnished Room, CBD, Non cooking executive bachelors, free Wi Fi, Advance deposit. Contact 95934642

Aluminium fabrication work required in Sohar- # -96577890

BUYING/SELLING Office & House hold Furniture & Electronics items. Contact 99834373 / 96642500

MATRIMONIAL Pakistani Expatriate from a good family looking for match for our Daughter age 26/5.3’’ Legal separated after 5 months marriage fair, Graduate B.Sc currently staying in Oman. Contact 96407945 24 years young male, well-employed, looking for a girl with modern outlook and preferably working status. nationality/ caste/ creed/ religion/ language no bar. Kindly apply in conﬁdence with a latest photograph on fax no. 24595913. Nair boy, 28/168 cms Kritiga chowa dosham from Pathanamthitta. Working in Oman. Seeking suitable alliance, contact 9515 6435 Nair Boy, Age 34, Sudhajathakam, Star Pooyam, from Palakkad, well Settled in Muscat, looking for suitable alliance. #95461965 & 98221147 Nair Girl 28 164 cm Bharni, MSc. Alleppey dist, seeks suitable alliance. Contact +91 4792339509 Alliance for educated Sunni Muslim girl 26 years from Bangalore preference for professionals contact :syedkhalid123@hotmail.com Keralite RC Girl 26 years 160 cm working MOH. Contact 92365310

Housemaid, male / female cleaners, house boy, light / heavy driver, sales girl, accountant, all skilled & unskilled workers from India, Sri Lanka. Contact Mr. Jerry 95175192, mail:, oman.manpower@yahoo.com We supply manpower locally for contracting companies, masons & helpers. Contact Nasser: 99786772

TRANSPORTATION Transportation. Contact 93405941 Transportation available. contact 95570429 Transportation. Contact 99077348 Car with driver available. Contact 99526610 For transportation. Contact 98782075 Transportation. Contact 99508282

CHANGE OF NAME We Bijoy Sarojini Raveendra Paniker (Name of father as per the passport, holder of India Passport No. H 6681958) & Anila Bijoy (name of Mother as per passport, holder of Indian Passport No. G 7902208) having permanent address in Beena Bhavan, Kalluvathukkal P.O, Kollam, Kerala, India 691578 (complete postal address in India) & presently residing at the following address in Al Khoud, P.B. No. 2354, PC 111 C.P.O, Sultanate of Oman, hereby solemnly affirm & declare to change the name of our child Master Nihal Bijoy (name as per present passport), holder of Indian passport No. H 8851610 date of issue 19.07.2010 issued at Trivandrum. The name of our child will be henceforth known as Navaneeth Anila Bijoy (new name) for all purposes. Any Objection towards change of name of our minor child may please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat, Diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, P. Box no 1727, Postal Code 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman.

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s

Furnished Room for one non-cooking bachelor in Ruwi, RO. 90 incl E& W. Contact 99754857

M.V. FOR SALE

publication.* Subject to space availability

Brand new 2014 model 12 Ton UD trucks are available for daily wages or contract basis. Contact 98833786 Hyundai Sonata 2005 Expat Doctor driven, done 1.23 lakh km, good condition, Registration till Oct 2014 expecting 1320 RO Negotiable. Contact 92312854 Nissan X Trail 2008 model, automatic transmission, done 228000kms.Price negotiable. Contact 99881516. Toyota Previa model 2007, 7 Seater RO 3500. Contact 96306885

Prado 2012, km 49, 000 4 cyl TXL Classic. Contact 99443695 Ford Focus 2003 model Manual. Ford Taurus 2002 model Automatic. Contact 99104947 Ford Edge , 2012, KMs 14,000+ (Fully Automatic) Expat Lady driven, full warranty and service records available, RO 10,500/- negotiable. Contact 98192903 Mazda 6, silver Gray 2003, 125000 km Dealer Maintained RO 2100, Nissan Sunny white 2004, 185000, excellent condition RO 1600. # 92697489

MV. WANTED Required Automatic Hatchback or small car, low mileage in good condition. Contact 94103591

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

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE ACCOUNTING & AUDIT SERVICES. GSM : 9880 5474 / email: acctsserv2013@gmail.com Looking for a JOB in INTERNAL AUDIT. Have two years employment visa and can join on immediate basis. Nawaz Meraj, MBA, CIA, CFE, 94289294, Available Till 27-11-2013. Indian Male B.Com ﬁnance with 8 years experience in Accounts with valid Oman D/L. Contact 91064275

ACCOUNTANCY

SALES / MARKETING

Required Accountant with 4 yrs experience in Hotel. Send your CV : birdymaan@hotmail.com Required Accountant with Min.5 to 8 years experience for manufacturing Company and knowledge of up to Finalization and experience in ERP, Tally & MIS Report and MS Office. Send CVs to vacancyinoman123@gmail.com

ENGINEERS/TECH Required Civil Engineer (5-7 yrs) experience. Should be in Gulf country. Email omanaec@gmail.com

BEAUTY Urgently required Indian beautician with or without Gulf experience, good salary + accommodation + food. Contact: 92284899, 92139922

CATERING Wanted kitchen helper. #95529970 Looking for General Cook experienced in Arabic, eastern, and Indian causing and waiter with visa. Contact 99190190

DRAUGHTSMAN Required a Civil Draughtsman cum Site Co-ordinator with driving license for a reputed ﬁrm in Oman. Email : mfbarka1@omantel.net.om / Fax : 26881211

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Required Graphic Designer, with minimum 2 years experience in Oman driving license with car preferred. Contact 91111675 Email: enquiry@brightstarmuscat.com

DRIVER Required Indian Heavy Driver, JCB & Excavator Operator (GCC license). Diesel mechanic with D/L. Contact 99454425 Experienced Omanis needed for (1) Outdoor administration and PRO work.(2) Driver for deliveries to customers. Contact 99592317 Driver cum Mechanic Urgently Required. Must be Reliable and Responsible and ideally have a diploma or similar in mechanics. Good salary including accommodation and health cover. To apply, please send an email to gainternationalllc@gmail.com

DOMESTIC HELP Cook wanted with experience in all types of dishes. Must be (Indian/Muslim). Contact 99202531 Email: info@ albatnapp.com Housemaid (full time) required for a Malayalee family. contact 95405033 Urgently required Keralite house maid at Al Khuwair. contact 93267065

ENGINEERS/TECH Required rock blasting ROP Licensed Engineers, Drilling Operators, Electricians & Shuttering Carpenters. Email npgoman@gmail. com Contact 24455392 Urgently required experienced Project Managers and Site Engineers for a reputed construction company. Interested candidates can send their CVs to mohamed@oasisgrace. com, #24826566 / 99881459 Fax: 24812226 Require AC Technician for immediate appointment, must know all type of AC works including split, Ducted & Chiller and experience in ducting works. # 24811425 fax 24810592 Required Mechanical Engineer with 5years+ experience in Piping and ﬁttings in oil and Gas ﬁeld sector with the ability to source new International manufacturers and evaluate the quality of the product. Interested candidate can send their CV : gopal@anpressoman.com

Urgently required in following position: Civil Engineer 1 no. with 5 yrs experience, Mechanical Engineer 1 no. with 5 yrs experience, Diploma in Civil 1 no. with 10 yrs experience, Driver 1 no. Light. Contact 92222245 / 99466540 Email: oartradingandcont@gmail.com

MEDICAL Male/ Female Nurses required for a rehabilitation clinic. MOH licensed preferred. Attractive Salary. Good English command. Kindly send CV to celestinabartolome@yahoo.com Wanted a Lady and dentist for a Clinic. Contact 95675488 Urgently required Dentist for a reputed polyclinic. Contact 96721709 or send CV to bijoos2012@gmail.com Urgently required female Ortho Dentist for dental clinic in Al Ghubrah. Contact 91381820 Email: care@alameendental.com Required Pharmacist, Asst Pharmacist with valid MOH license. Email : trade@omanmed.com Assistant Pharmacist with MOH license to work in capital. Email : saif695@yahoo.com Doctors are invited to run a new Clinic in Salalah as partner or rent. Contact 97413418/ 93955020 Wanted a Lady GP & Dental for a clinic. Contact 95645488 Wanted for a reputed Polyclinic female GP, Gynecologist, Dentist with MOH license. Forward CV to shazadmr@gmail.com

MANAGER Required Manager, Assistant Manager, Cashier cum receptionist, head waiter, Indian cook, Chinese cook, Accountant for a very reputed restaurant in Oman. Candidates should have a minimum experience of 5 years in the catering industry. Email CV to recruit.oman2014@gmail.com

MISC English speaking experienced Philipino Lady Tailor for cutting and stitching of ladies Gowns/ Abayas etc. Contact 92545269 / 92227165 Email : ahdmct@gmail.com Omani Security Staff required for an International School in Al Khuwair. Contact 92347333 Required experienced HSE Officer with PDO and logistics experience. Contact: telljobs@gmail.com

Sales Executives required for a fast growing multinational building material company with valid Oman driving license. Preference will be given to candidates having 1-2 yrs experience in selling hard / exotic woods. Send CV by Email stating salary expectation & recent photograph to : sales@musandum.com Urgently required Business Development Executive – lady -with good communication skills and account background to deal with branded malls for a Muscat office of UAE Company. Send CV to admin@ wacllcoman.com Business Development Executives (Advertising/Media Sales) with pleasing personality, engaging communication skills and Oman driving licence. Email: deemaild@gmail.com Urgently required a Salesman for Electronics & A/C spare parts should have 2 years experience and Omani license. Contact 99371544 Email alihamdanaaft@gmail.com Urgently required Marketing Executive for furniture ﬁeld with valid D/L & experience of Oman market. contact 97164554 or email : aliasgar@ultimate-furniture.com Urgently required well experience Sales Executive for Int’l Courier Company in Muscat. Walk in interview from 20/11/2013 to 26/11/2013 for office location please call 99747466 Required: Executives – International marketing & Store-Keeper - Experience in Marble, Granite or ceramic industry with minimum 5 years’ experience preferred. Send detailed CV with expected salary sudakv@gmail.com or faxed to +968 26750186. Degree or Diploma holder in Mechanical Engineering with experience in Structural Steel Sales and Marketing . Apply thru email : recruitoman10@gmail.com Reputable company looking for showroom Sales and Marketing staff for enquiry please contact 96207440 or send your CV to business137@ymail.com

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED 26 years Indian Chartered Accountant male with 2 yrs of experience is seeking suitable placement in Muscat. Kindly contact him on 98201476 or email at venkat230684@gmail.com Indian Male, 25.Y. BCA- Looking for Job as Data Entry Operator, Documents Controller, Admin Executive have 3 years of experience, on Visit Visa Looking for suitable Position soon. Contact on: 95945712 An Indian Graduate with 13 years experience of Accounting up to Finalisation, Audit & MIS. Worked on ERP Oracle based & TALLY in Oman Muscat. Well versed with MS Excel. Contact no. 00968-96728733 Indian male Executive Secretary having vast experience in admin, logistics. Well versed with computer seeks suitable placement. Contact : 99514286

OFFICE & SECRETARIAL Urgently required Female Secretary having Bachelors Degree, excellent computer & correspondence skills, proﬁcient with MS Office. Email : trade@omanmed.com Require male Secretary for Managing Partner of a construction company. Email : omaniantrad@gmail.com Required Document controller, female, Omani with least 3 years experience. Contact 97716506

SALES / MARKETING Experience individual required for Marketing Department in Electromechanical Contracting Company in Oman. Send CV to jobs.oman@outlook.com

Indian male 25, having CA inter cleared with B.com having ﬁve years of experience in accounts and auditing, presently working in oman looking for a better placement. Mob 98097009, Email: rameesnm@ gmail.com MBA in Marketing, Banking, logistic, Procurement, Inventory control, total 4 years experience. Visa expires Dec 30, 2013, seeks suitable placement, Contact 97468157 Indian Male, Having Gulf Experience More than 3 Years in Account Assistant looking for suitable jobs In Accounts . Contact : 95581902 Male B.Com graduate 3 years experience seeks immediate placement as accounts asst or admin asst. Please contact 96754380 or 93393769.

Indian male 30, MBA (IRDA certified) with 9 years experience in Banking (YES Bank) & insurance industry, seeking for a suitable opportunity in Oman. Contact 9220264(Muscat), +919894699711 (India) Email: senthil.cbe83@gmail. com Chartered Accountant, Female, B. Sc. Accountancy (Special) Graduate with 8 years of experience seeking suitable opportunities. #93957919 Indian male, 27 yrs, 5 yrs Oman experience in the field of Accounts, confident of handling accounts upto finalization, seeks suitable placement. Contact 97013048, ravoof1407@gmail.com Indian female 23 yrs, MBA (Finance & HR), PGPFM, currently on visit, looking for suitable placement. Contact 95931988 Accountant Indian male, 28 yrs , MBA, B. Com having 5+ years exp & D/L seeks immediate placement . Contact 93397327 Email: rijurenuka@gmail.com ACCA Graduation (U.K) , 25 yrs male, 3 yrs experience in relevant field, looking for suitable placement currently on visit visa. #97268263

Manager / DY. Manager Accounts, Indian male aged 43 yrs, well experienced in accounts & finance, inclusive 3 yrs in Dubai, independently handling accounts upto finalisation, seeking placement in oman, no location constraints. contact : 98100734 email : charoos@rediffmail.com Real estate accounts & finance / administration experienced indian male seeking a suitable role in real estate companies, with 23 yrs experience in handling accounts, reporting, real estate administration etc. in middle east, ready to relocate anywhere in Oman. mob : 97256935 email: ganrajagopalan@yahoo.co.in Chief Accountant well experienced with reputed Group, seeks placement. #95598477 / 98803439 Senior Accountant, M.Com 12 years Oman experienced Finalization, Administration, management, Material & cost control, business development with Oman D/L. Call 91162345 Senior Accountant 7 years experience Indian female. # 96228351 Email : kokils81@yahoo.co.in Indian male 30 yrs , 6+yrs experience in Oman well experienced in oil & Gas construction companies in accounting (fin) & payroll (HR) fields seeking suitable placement. Contact 96979350 An Experienced MBA with skills in Accounts, Sales and Marketing is available in Oman for appropriate Job. Contact 92393258 Indian male 37 years, B.Com Graduate having 10 years experience in Oman independent handling upto finalization, having driving license. Contact 92258853

DRAUGHTSMAN Indian male 24years, (M.Tech) structures fresher seeking design job in a reputed company currently available on visit visa. Contact 91345502 AutoCAD Draughtsman working in Oman with reputed company seeking a suitable job. Contact 96102459 Email: ateeqas01@yahoo.com MEP Draughtsman, 4 years experience in Oman, Seeking suitable placement. Contact 96250818

DESIGNER Indian male 26 yrs, 4 years experience in designing Animation, Photoshop illustrator, CorelDraw ﬂash Maya (3D) after affects, looking for suitable placement. # 93537409 Email : omerp7@gmail.com

DRIVER UAE Experienced Driver. Contact 99725003 Light Driver, 10 years experience in Oman. Contact 94136610 Six years driving experience Dubai Eden company, 2 years experience Gourmet Cola Pakistan Pvt Ltd, 4 years contact at this number for light vehicle driver : 00968 95634500 Light Driver with car need job, Pakistani. Contact 98104631 Light Duty Driver, Looking for suitable job. Contact 94364781 Wanted Driving job. contact 96741993

DOMESTIC HELP

Chartered Accountant from India, post qualiﬁcation experience 21years, 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

Indian male, 33 having 6 years experience in Accounts up to ﬁnalization, purchase with valid Oman D/L. Contact 99517013 Senior Accountant, 39 yrs Oil & Gas experienced. #93858725

ENGG. / TECHNICAL

Indian Female 25 yrs cost and management Accountant and M.Com with 1 yrs experience, seeking suitable placement presently on visit visa. CONTACT 92376754/ 96040125 Email anjumathews88@gmail.com

Indian male 37 years, B.Com Graduate having 10 years experience in Oman Indian handling up to ﬁnalization, having driving license. Contact 92258853

Indian male BE (Electrical), 5 years experience (2 yrs. Oman) with Oman D/L, seeks suitable job in Construction ﬁeld. Contact 98294561 Email : pradeapeappen@gmail.com

Indian Male 23 years Qualification in NCVT Mechanical Course and Professional Diploma in finance Accounting requires a suitable placement any field. Contact 91031950 Email sinojmukundan@gmail.com Indian Female 23 yrs, MBA (Finance & HR), PGPFM, currently on visit, looking for suitable placement. Contact 95931988 Indian male Accountant, M.Com total 5 years experience 4 years Oman experience, seeking suitable placement. Contact 96156896 Email : aramathnibu@gmail.com Indian male 23 years, on visit visa having M.Com in management with first class looking for suitable placement. Contact 94265170 Indian, male, M.Com, PGDCA, with Tally ERP 9.0, MS Office, having 12+ years experience (4 months in Oman) seeks placement as Accountant in Oman. # 93522685, EMAIL: ramkumar9791417318@gmail.com

ARCH/ INTERIOR Iraqi Architect 23 years experience 7 years in Oman, seeking replacement. Contact 97608513 Cad Drawings Architectural detail drawings, interior exterior drawings 3D views. Contact 99610110

ADMIN/HR Indian female 29, MSc Analytical Chemistry & B Ed, having experience in Teaching (Chemistry & Physics), Office Administration and in Chemical Analysis, seeking suitable placement. Contact 00968 96374066 / 93522354 Email : priyankavipin84@gmail.com Indian female, seeking suitable placement in HR / Office Administration / Indoor sales / Accounts assistant. Contact: 91323935.

Part time Accountant available. Contact 99013963

Indian Male 31, MBA (HR), B.Com having 9 yrs experience in HR/ Administration, 7 yrs experience in Gulf, Seeking suitable placement in Oman. Contact 92073145 Email sudheesh reghunath@gmail.com

Indian female 22 yrs, B.Com Graduate CPT passed CA Inter doing M.Com ﬁnal year doing (Tally, MS Office). # 96124193 / 99663957 Email : anishasasi@gmail.com

Indian male, 10 years experience in Purchase & Administration. BSc & PGDCA. Pursuing MBA. 6 Years in Oman, seeking suitable placement. Contact – 96461336

Indian male Accountant M.Com, MBA 7 years experience seeking a suitable position. Contact 93029334 Email: heams.merlin@gmail.com

University topper M.PHIL, M.SC operations manager female with 6+ years experience seeking job in admin operations /HR. Contact 91387047

Indian female, Accountant, B.Com 3 years experience (1.6 years) Oman Tally, Busy. Contact 96498424

Indian male, 29 yrs, LLB/ PGDHRM having 4 yrs exp in HR & Admin in Oman looking for a suitable vacancy. Contact 97866249

ACCA qualiﬁed + advanced dip in business & accounting 5+ yrs experience in accounts & ﬁnance (1.3 yrs Oman exp) looking for suitable change. Contact 95174220 Email: accafarrukh@yahoo.com Accountant, Indian male having valid Oman driving license AGE 31, B.com graduate with, 10years of computerized accounting experience in India, U.A.E &Oman presently working as accountant in Oman seeking suitable jobs. Contact +96894058639/ +96895704584

Electronics & Communication Engineer, MBA (HR & Marketing), Indian Female with experience. Contact 96963961 Canadian female, CHRP certiﬁed 5years experience in Canada in customer service recruitment and HR policies and procedures. Contact 97385772 Email: mathewsdliza@gmail.com Administrator, Admin Assistant, Office Secretary, Admin clerk Indian 7 years experience in Muscat. Contact 96337160

Housemaid available part time & full time. Contact 93889545

Indian male 24 years, Mechanical Engineer, looking for a suitable placement. Contact 97455702 Indian Male 24, 1 year experienced Engineer with D/L. Looking for better challenged job. Gsm: 92436708 Email: leenas.jerry@gmail.com Civil Engineer Iraqi more than 25 years experience. #97464904 BE - Electrical Engr Indian male 2+ yrs experience seeking suitable placement, presently on visit visa. Contact 95483624 / 99102153 Electrical Engineer with 4.6 yrs experience in contracting field in India, technical skills in Auto Cad, MS Office, PLC & SCADA looking for suitable placement. Contact 98034809 Email varunrameshan@gmail.com Civil Engineer (Diploma), looking for a suitable placement. Contact 95200650 Diploma Civil Engineering Indian male with 5+years Oman experience in executing Civil projects, seeking suitable placements. Contact 97697470 Diploma Civil Engineer 24 yrs experience 5 yrs in Oman, seeking suitable job. Contact 92801578 Email kajialamgir@hotmail.com Indian male, 31 yrs, Diploma in Electrical Engg, 8 yrs experience in Oman as material approval coordinator / controller seeks suitable placement. Contact 95839964, suitable for sales engineer/ purchase officer. HSE Adviser, Qualification : Diploma Safety (Minimum 1 Year) NEBOSH, OSHA, minimum 3 years Gulf experience (Oil and Gas). Candidate must Speak & Write English. Contact : 92503125 & 92048058 Land line : 23279474 , Email : hralezco@ hotmail.com BE Electronics & Communication Engineer Indian male, 25 years, seeking suitable placement holds valid Oman driving license. Contact 97434543 Email : dz4216@gmail.com Pak male, 25 years, having 3 years Diploma of Associate Civil Engineer with 2 years experience looking for suitable placement, # 92273197; Email: yasir_usman1989@yahoo.com

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

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED

MISCELLANEOUS

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Indian male, B.Tech (Mech.), MBA, MLM (Master of Labour Management), more than 15 yrs. experience and 2 yrs. in Oman as Plant Manager with valid Oman D/L. Exposure in Production, Quality Control and Admin seeks suitable placement. Contact: 91301625

Indian Male (M. Tech)- 2 years experience as a Business Develop Manager looking for suitable post Contact#91362515 Indian Male (M. Tech) -2 Years experience as DBA looking for suitable post. Contact#97826674

MISCELLANEOUS Electrical Engineer, 22 years experience, out of 13 years in Gulf experience in construction sector with valid Oman D/L and CEP seeks suitable placement.# 94220631 Purchase Officer 28 yrs Indian, Diploma in Mech Engg 5+2 yrs experience in Purchasing, Vendor development sourcing, ERP Software with valid Oman driving license, seeks suitable placement. Contact 92208296 Email : oikala.1985@gmail.com Civil Engineer Diploma, total 5 yrs, experience (3 yrs. in Oman). Contact 93399126

INFORMATION TECH B.Tech (ECE) + 2 years in IT Support and 1 year ASP.NET developer looking for suitable opening in IT Sales, development & Marketing. Contact 95278688. IT Technical System support/ Hardware Engineer on visit visa. Contact 98221577 / 93320458

25 Years Indian male DME holder 4 years experience in Structural & Piping ﬁeld. Procurement & Project coordination. Contac 99861593

Indian male 27 years old, Masters in Computer Applications with 4+ years experience, Key skills: Oracle Pl/sql and .net Seeking Suitable placement.Contact +919538345624 sujithchennat@gmail.com

Electronics Engineer in Oman on visit visa, seeking job.# 92009640

MISCELLANEOUS

Masters in Civil Engineering (Indian) 22 years experience having building, Roads, Pipeline works, looking suitable position. Contact 93054949 / 98070040 Email: duggirala_km@yahoo.com

Fisheries Graduate Indian male 28 years with certiﬁcate in HACCP and 4years experience in food processing Industry seeks suitable openings. Contact 92123983 Email: vikasvelayudhan@yahoo.co

Srilankan BTEC Quantity Surveyor with 6 years experience (Including Gulf), Looking for a suitable placement. Contact 98357512 Email: lebbeah@yahoo.com

Pakistani Young Male with Omani driving license wanted job. Contact 97058416

Indian female B.Tech Civil Engg, 3 years experience (6 months in Oman) in QS, estimation, Cost control and planning, seeks suitable job. Contact 92047375 Email: vinujosephcm@gmail.com Diploma Mechanical Engineering 25 yrs Indian male 6 years experience in Quality control India. Contact 97312111 Email sultan9817@gmail.com / coolrazak151@rediffmail.com Indian male 27 yrs B.Tech Automobile, 5.5 yrs experience both in Toyota & Suzuki, Looking for Service Engineer jobs. # 92449426 Email: praveennair_s@yahoo.com 47 Years Male Diploma holder in Mechanical engineering, looking for a job 20 years experience in fabrication & site work. Contact 00968 92646603 (Oman) / 0091 9423448329 (India) BE Mechanical Engineer, Indian male Looking for suitable opening in Sales, Structural design, Production, MEP and Oil and Gas sector. # 91323520. Email shuaibmohammed62@gmail.com Indian male 25 years, B.Tech in Electronics & Communication Engineering (Automation or Instrumentation Engineer) with 1+ year India experience in Automation PLC, SCADA, DCS, HMI AC & DC Drives, Seeking suitable placement. Contact 92151143/ 92151143 B/E Electronics Engineer having 3.5 years of Indian experience in Planning, Construction, Telecommunication, Hardware Networking, Marketing. Contact 92629307 Indian male B-Tech Mechanical Engg, seeks suitable placement, now on visit. Contact 91214585

Store Keeper Keralite having Gulf experience and Computer knowledge, Seeks suitable post. #92770250 Indian female 25 years, MSC MICRO Biology, Looking for placement in food or medicine industry or laboratory experience one year in dairy farm. Contact 92255983

MEDICAL Nursing caregiver, qualiﬁed & experienced Nurse & Assist Nurse seeks good placement at home / clinic. Contact 92989109 email: medicoport@gmail.com B.Sc Nursing ACLS & BLS MOH licensed 2 yrs experience. Contact 95849901

MANAGER/ SUPER

Female 24 Years, BE in Comp Science, seeking suitable placement. Contact 93031466 Email:ninnumenon@gmail.com Experienced Operations Manager with 12 yrs experience in CCTV, ACCESS control system, Control & Automation systems and IT business, seeking senior position.# 98823248 IT Administrator, 5Yrs exp D/L, seeks placement. Contact 91383289 30 years, Indian male, IT professional with 6 years experience including GCC in hardware, networking & office administration seeks suitable placement. Contact 95096961.

Ten years sales experience need job. Contact 95266485 29 years male, MBA, 4years experience in sales, marketing and admin + Oman driving license needs a job. Contact 92236980 / 92223661 Email: shah_anwarss@hotmail.com MBA, Marketing executive, gulf experienced, oman driving license seeks placement, phone : 98011696 MBA Marketing, 26 yrs, 3.5 years experience in marketing and sales of Auto parts (Corporate & Market) Packaging products and exports. Good command in MS office and English. Seeking a suitable placement in reputed organization. Currently on employment visa. Contact: 97448162 Email: Flies26@yahoo.com Seeks a job: Native American - male - in Muscat seeks employment, seeking all customer services opportunities. Contact 94475783 5 Years experienced, Male Insurance Customer care Executive, ﬂuent in English with total experience of 12 years in other ﬁelds, 31 yrs, looking for suitable job vacancy. Contact 90993099 Indian male 31yrs, 6 years experience in Sales & marketing in Oman, have Omani D/L looking for a suitable placement. Contact 92148170 Indian male 25 yrs, with 2 years experience in Oman as Sales man looking for a suitable placement. Contact 95285270 Indian Male, Age 27, B.Tech in Computer Science, Valid GCC Driving License, Presently in Oman, 2 year experience in Marketing, Looking for Sales & Marketing. GSM: 93468441

Working as a Site Supervisor (Civil) since 2010 with D/L of Oman looking for good placement in good Company. Contact 93061107 Indian male, M.Com 15 yrs experience (5 yrs in Oman) in banking corporate & retail loans admin manager, seeks suitable placement. Contact 94248518 Email : rayan2801@gmail.com

Female Indian MBA having 2 years experience in Sales & Marketing Oman, seeks better placement having valid GCC Oman driving license. Contact 94213211 Email : april9tea@gmail.com

12+ yrs experienced Purchase Manager seeks immediate placement. Contact 98942117

Smart Indian male, 15 years of Oman exposure with MBA. Experienced in Oilﬁeld Products (Upstream) with Omani D/L working as Sales & Marketing Manager, seeks suitable placement in a senior position. Contact 99639375

Young Ind Male MBA 6 yrs exp as Supervisor. Contact 93893868 20+ yrs exp Senior Manager experienced in purchase, sales, admin & accounts seeks immediate placement. Contact 97073942 7 years experience gulf electric plumping foreman, Indian Kerala. Contact 96375336 Email: shadam@gmail.com

SECRETARIAL/OFFICE

Computer Network Administrator, looking any job similar to above. Email : bathu.27@gmail.com Contact 99347141

29 Indian Female MBA in supply chain and logistics, 5 yrs experience seeking placement. 94402043, 96500790

Sri Lankan 22 yrs Diploma in UK, having exp. in customer services Teller Sales Marketing in UK UAE, seeking suitable placement. Contact 97409533

INFORMATION TECH PMP, SAP Certiﬁed in Basis having skills in SolMan, BW, BPC looking for a job Call:96067579

SALES / MARKETING

Indian male, 34 yrs, PGDBA in Operations Management with 14 yrs experience as Manager Administration & Sales Coordination seeks immediate placement. Contact 92769725 Indian Female, 6 years experience in Secretarial, Administration, Coordination holding Oman Driving License seeking suitable placement. Contact 95196052, 95269592. Document controller / data entry operator, experienced, female, seeks suitable placement phone : 96148941 Indian female diploma 2years experience as system administrator seeking suitable position in IT/ clerical section on visit visa. Contact 95434765 Email: anuajay191@gmail.com

Six (06) years Oman experience in Building material sales and purchase holding Omani Driving License Available to join immediately along with change of visa Kindly contact 00 968 91252646 , E mail mfk9125@gmail.com MBA in Sales and Marketing having 7yeras experience having Omani driving license, Looking for any suitable job. Contact 94370614 B.Com, MBA, Indian Senior Business Executive, 35 yrs experience seeks employment in Administration, Sales, Marketing, Logistics, Supply Chain. Call Menon : 98774861, email : prakashmenon10@hotmail.com Highly qualiﬁed senior level Executive with 15+ yrs exp. in Business development, sales & marketing & operations in GCC (6 yrs in Oman) looking for challenging position. Contact 95499501

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

Indian female M.com/ICWAI(inter) seeking suitable placement nshkumari30@gmail.com Contact:24831091/98506722 Having experience in sales with Omani driving license, looking for a suitable position Contact 99834931 Pakistani Male 24, MBA Finance with 2 years experience looking for any suitable Placement. (Finance/ Accounts/Marketing/Admin). Contact 97464465 26 year Indian Chartered Accountant male with 2yrs of experience is seeking suitable placement in Muscat. Kindly contact him on 98201476 or email at venkat230684@gmail.com Indian male Executive Secretary having vast experience in admin, logistics, well versed with computer seeks suitable placement. #99514286 Diploma Holder, 7 Years experience in Purchase/Logistic/Supply Chain/ Coordinator. Technical background with Oman D/L. Good English/Computer knowledge, looking Suitable position. 94440370 26 years Indian Chartered Accountant male with 2 yrs of experience is seeking suitable placement in Muscat. Contact him on 98201476 or email at venkat230684@gmail.com Indian male, 30 yrs, looking for Job of an Accountant having 9.5 years of experience, having knowledge of Tally, Oracle based ORION, Quickbooks looking for suitable position very soon. Contact : 92629133 ERP Engineer Indian male with more than 7 years of experience, currently working SOAG company in Oman. Contact 95851254. Email:shajith_oadc@omzest.com Mechanical Engineer, one year experience in oman, seeking suitable placement : Contact : 92016055. Rameer@gmail.com M.Tech computer Science, Indian male with 3.5 years experience in Web Design seeking suitable placement. GSM 96303055, aditya.khandkar@gmail.com.

Indian Female MBA - 3 Years experience as an Accountant looking for suitable post Contact: 91362516

Accounts Manager, Commerce Graduate, 12 yrs experience in industries, audit & tax, 6 yrs in Oman, looking for suitable placement. #96621642, a.b.vasoya@gmail.com

Young, dynamic, hard working, 25, male, acca ﬁnalist with driving license, seeking for immediate replacement,1 year accounting experience and currently working in Audit Firm. Contact.97654769, email id: abdullahnoor.alam@.yahoo.com

Highly Competent HR Professional with MBA(HR), 8+ yrs of exp (Oman, India & Africa) in Construction, Energy & Mechanical Industry is looking for Job. Immediately Available. Contact: 95930705 / 93206650 Email: get.rashid92@gmail.com

26 year Indian Chartered Accountant male with 2yrs of experience is seeking suitable placement in Muscat. Kindly contact him on 98201476 or email at venkat230684@gmail.com

B.E Mechanical, Indian male, 26 yrs, on visiting visa, having 3 years experience in Piping Projects as QA/QC Engineer/ Site Engineer. Contact 968 98766298 Email- nagesh.saps@gmail.com

Indian male (28), 6 months experience in van sales in diary ﬁeld in Muscat, seeks a suitable placement. Contact 92987415

Indian male ITI, holder 13 years experience in Electrical Eng & network in India present staying in visit visa. Contact 98061783

ERP Engineer Indian male with more than 7 years of experience, currenly working SOAG company in Oman. Contact 95851254. Email:shajith_oadc@omzest.com

Indian Male, B.Tech, 4 years experience in Teaching & Admin, C+C++, JAVA, SQL, Expert in Ms Office urgently, seeking for suitable jobs. Contact 97411930 Email iliyashaji@gmail.com

Indian male 25, having CA inter cleared with B.com having ﬁve years of experience in accounts and auditing, presently working in oman looking for a better placement. Mob 98097009, Email: rameesnm@gmail.com Indian male,M.Com, with 2 year experiences (one year in oman) in accounting up to ﬁnalization. experience in tally ERP 9,Peachtree & Ms office. Contact no 92046986 mail: shaneel.moni@gmail.com Indian Male, having 17 years experience in sales, currently working with Omani MNC since last 7 years, handling export & local sales, with valid Omani D/L is looking for senior position. Contact 96246981 Senior Accountant , Indian Female, B.com , CA Articles ,10+ exp. in Oman , Accounts & Finalization Etc. Immediate joining , release available , having Omani driving license. Contact – 95054843 24 yrs female with driving license, b.b.a plus I.A.T.A,3 years experience seeking suitable position in secretarial , business development, admin, hr ,procurement, travel. Contact 95337828 or e -mail at hibhak@gmail.com.

Indian Male 24 years, B.Tech in Information Science & Engineering with one year experience. Contact 96946929

CIVIL ENGINEER(FRESH),Indian female seeks suitable placement in reputed ﬁrm. contact-92956291,91233057

Keralite, 21 years Exp. (11 years in OMAN/UAE) in Accounts, Admin., Purchase, Sales, Projects, Imports and Tally ERP with Driving License, looking for a suitable position. Contact: 93 00 79 66.

Indian Male, 27, Bachelor of Engineering Computer Science, 5years experience in technical software support, with excellent English and Computer knowledge seeking job on urgent basis.Contact : 95041196

Filipino Tower Crane Operator with 6 yrs experience in GCC is looking for a suitable job in Muscat, Contact: 96750918

Indian Male, BE Electrical Engg, fresh candidate looking for jobs in Oman. Having valid Omani driving license. Contact: 97845958

BBA Hons, 7years of working experience as a ﬁeld supervisor and ﬁeld support coordinator looking for suitable position, holding Omani driving license. Call: 97127321.

M.C.A., Male 25, Java devoloper,2 years Exp in Web Application Development. Knowledge in JAVA ( JSE, JEE MODULES ) and Oracle Database seeking suitable job. Contact Number : 94246345 Email Id:mulagala.seven@gmail.com

Indian male, B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering, 15 yrs. experience as Plant Engineer, Quality Control Manager and Factory Manager with valid Oman D/L, seeks suitable placement. Contact: 91013578 Indian male B.com 4 years experience in motor vehicle sales man. Seek suitable placement #99421537 An Expatriate Indian Male, BA graduate, with an experience of working 2 years in Gulf, in construction ﬁeld worked as admin and supervisor, with a knowledge of Fire and Safety, seeking for a good opportunity. E-Mail : sanil4484@gmail.com, #93380746 / 00919920179117

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

Purchase/Logistics/Supply Chain/ Coordinator. Diploma Holder. 7 Years experience. Technical background also. Oman D/L. Good English/Computer knowledge. Looking Suitable position. 94440370

Indian male, 26, MSc Computer Science, technical experience in VB, .Net, PHP, HTML and MySQL, 2 years experience in trouble shooting, seeks suitable positions. #92712912, ishakphassan@rocketmail.com

Indian male, B.Tech (Mech.), MBA, MLM (Master of Labour Management), more than 15 yrs. experience and 2 yrs. in Oman as Plant Manager with valid Oman D/L. Exposure in Production, Quality Control and Admin seeks suitable placement. #91301625

Indian male Accountant,B.Com with 6 yrs experience in Oman, seeks suitable placement. Contact 91057862. e_mail umct777@ gmail.com

Indian male, M.Com with 2 years experiences (one year in Oman) in accounting up to finalization, experience in tally ERP 9, Peachtree & Ms office. Contact no 92046986. Email: shaneel.moni@gmail.com Project Engineer Indian male 26 having 5.5 years experience in oil & gas field with 2 years gulf experience and valid Oman driving license. 15 Years experienced light duty indian driver knowing electrical work . Contact 97413721 Indian male with 10 years experience in Oman in the field of Advertising and Marketing Communication handling good accounts with a valid Omani Driving License is looking out for a job change in an Ad agency or on the client’s side as a Marketing Communications Manager. Contact: 95210667/ 95587255

B.Sc Civil Engineer 7 years exp Oman D/L. Contact 98502082 Email hajo2000@hotmail.com 3 years experience Indian post Graduate Automation and Control Engineer seeks suitable job. Contact 99016434 Diploma in Civil Engineer 4 years experience in Oman now available in Oman, Looking a job. Contact 97415597 Indian Male, 24 years MBA INANCE 3 years experience in accounting and financial sector, currently working in Muscat. Contact : 98486125 26 year Indian Chartered Accountant male with 2yrs of experience is seeking suitable placement in Muscat.Kindly#him on 98201476 or email at venkat230684@gmail.com Indian Male, Mcom, 30 yrs having 8 years GCC experience in Accounts of Construction and Trading Field with valid Qatar and Oman license, adequate knowledge in ERP and Tally softwares, presently working in Muscat-Oman seeks suitable opportunities in Accounts and Finance Dept #98483181 or mails to noushiforme@yahoo.com Poly Tech (mechanical) Male, 23 years Working in Bangalore in the field of quality control, boiler and power plant, good computer knowledge and specialized in Vehicle mechanic seeking job in any technical field.Contact: 99743709 / 97350857 Indian Male, 30.Y. Looking for Job of an Accountant having 9.5 years of experience, having knowledge of Tally, Oracle based ORION, Quickbooks Looking for suitable Position very soon. Contact on: 92629133 Indian female MSC Nursing with 3 years experience presently in Oman seeks suitable placement. Contact 95190177, email:anilmath@gmail.com Indian male executive secretary having vast experience in admin. Logistics. Well versed with computer seek suitable placement. Contact 99514286 26 year Indian Chartered Accountant male with 2yrs of experience is seeking suitable placement in Muscat.# 98201476 or email at venkat230684@gmail.com Accountant, Indian Male, 24 Years, B. Com Graduate, 10TH Rank Holder for B. Com in Kerala, Tally ERP 9, MCP, Working in Accounts for last 3 Years, 1.7 years of Gulf experience, Seeks suitable placement as Accountant. Contact : 98470441, Email: soorajv2efa@gmail.com Indian male 25, having CA inter cleared with B.com having five years of experience in accounts and auditing, presently working in Oman looking for a better placement. Mob 98097009, Email: rameesnm@gmail.com

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED Accountant, young, Indian male B.com having 2 years of experience in Tally ERP.9 and ready to join immediately, Contact 95534746 Indian female, GNIIT, BSC, 7 years experience in it, worked for TATA group, India, seeks suitable it related jobs in Muscat. Contact 94470601/ rajalakshmi.sivaraman@gmail.com A Quality Manager from India with a 10 years of experience in Garments field seeking a suitable placement and now available at Muscat. Contact 92359691 Indian male 8 yrs experience (Oman) in material approval department & purchase with driving license, seeks placement, presently working in a reputed construction company. Contact 95839964 preferred as sales Eng/ Purchase department. 26 years Indian Chartered Accountant male with 2yrs of experience is seeking suitable placement in Muscat. Kindly contact 98201476 or email at venkat230684@gmail.com Indian MBA in marketing with driving license presently in Oman as Marketing Manager seeks better opportunity. Contact: 99801270 Indian Female, B.Com, with 5 years experience currently on family visa seeks suitable placements preferably in Accounts or Admin. Contact 99725061 A Quality Manager from India with a 10 years of experience in Garments field seeking a suitable placement and now available at Muscat. Contact No. 92359691 Young, hard working, male, 25, ACCA finalist with driving license, seeking for immediate replacement,1 year accounting and auditing experience, Currently working in audit firm, expecting audit job only. Contact 97654769, email id:abdullah. nooralam@yahoo.com Diploma Holder. 7 Years experience in Purchase/Logistic/Supply Chain/ Coordinator. Technical background. Oman D/L. Good English/Computer knowledge. Looking Suitable position. 94440370 Indian male, 29 yrs, B.Com more than 5 years experience, accounts, good in tally. Contact - 95581902

Indian Male 24yrs, B.com having 2 years experience in Accounting, Finance & Admin with good knowledge in Tally & Computers looking for suitable position . Currently in Muscat. Contact: 97840863

Indian Male 24 yrs, B.com having 2 years experience in Accounting, Finance & Admin with good knowledge in Tally & Computers looking for suitable position. Currently in Muscat. Contact: 97840863

ICWAI, Indian Female, 26 yrs, 2.5 yrs experience in Costing Finance & Accounts seeks suitable placements. Contact 95028759,

Male B.Com graduate 3 years experience seeks immediate placement as accounts asst Or admin asst. Please contact 96754380 or 93393769.

SA Female 5 years work experience in Muscat with Omani driving licence seeks a suitable position in a reputable company. Please send email mct.jobs@yahoo.com BE-MBA, 12 years oman experience with d/l seeking manager- projects, sales, purchase, marketing, product, business development job, Contact-96040977, kvmssn@gmail.Com Indian female, 27 M.A Economics with 6 years of teaching experience in a college seeks suitable placement in colleges, schools etc in Oman. Contact no.91037392 24 yrs female with driving license, b.b.a plus I.A.T.A, 3 years experience seeking suitable position in secretarial, admin, HR, procurement, travel. Contact 95337828 or e-mail at hibhak@gmail.com. Indian male (29) B.Com Graduate, ﬁve year experience in accounting ﬁeld and four year experience banking & insurance in India, valid Omani driving license, seeking suitable placement. Contact 96375866 Indian Male 37yrs, Married presently in Sohar along with family. Having own visa looking and searching for good job openings in as Front office Executive, Office Assistant, Data Entry Operator, Computer Operator, Receptionist, Salesman, Customer care Executive, Etc. Waiting to join good companies as soon as possible. Please contact, 00968-92054243

24 yrs female with driving license, b.b.a plus I.A.T.A,3 years experience seeking suitable position in secretarial, admin, hr, procurement, travel. Please contact 95337828 or e-mail at hibhak@gmail.com. 1.4 yrs experience in accounting and auditing, currently working in audit firm, Looking for audit or managerial position, seeking for immediate replacement. Gsm-97654769 Indian Male 24, M-tech. Infrastructure (Civil Engineering), Fresher,knowledge in Staadpro and Primavera, looking for suitable Civil Engineer post, Contact number: +968 97312086, email:dhinu.90@gmail.com Young Male Graduate BA Hons (Marketing)- United Kingdom with 2 years experience & driving licence seeks suitable placement in Business development/Brand management/Logistics. Call 96402727 27 years Indian male 8 years’ Indian market experience in the field of Event Management, Sales & Customer Service, looking for a challenging opportunity in Muscat in relevant field. Contact 96167803 Indian male, MCA, MBA-HR, B.Com with 9.5 yrs. Exp. looking for a suitable opportunity as IT Project Head & SAP HR Consultant (Multi tasking) presently come on visit visa in Oman, # GSM : +968 92801761 E-mail : rishhi@msn.com

Pak 24M, MBA Finance with 2 years experience Looking for any suitable placement (Finance/Accounts/Marketing). Contact 97464465

Structural Engineer all types of structural works with calculation, looking for part time job. Contact – 92147378

Pakistan 24Male, MBA Finance with 2 years Experience Looking for any Suitable Placement (Finance/Accounts/Marketing). Contact 97464465

Indian male MBA 31 yrs having 8 yrs of exp seeking suitable placement in Admin/HR/ operations/ coordination/ logistics etc. Holding valid D/L. Contact - 93609307

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

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

TOURS

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

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

RENT A CAR

BUSINESS

A Muscat based well established electrical contracting company having running projects in Muscat and Salalah airports looking for a managing partner from the similar ﬁeld.” Contact 93284290 Looking for Omani partner for business development services. Contact 93194825 Email: edumass4@gmail.com We want to buy car war work shop Muscat or nearby Muscat. Contact with detail mobile 93535394 CANADIAN company. for immigration & manpower is looking for a partner in Oman with license !For contact evro21@gmail.com 0097333054453

A well running Civil contracting company LLC doing ministry work, looking for new sponsor and investor or partner.#96726115 Restaurant + coffee shop with seating capacity of 50 people and potential to make 90 (with mezzanine in running condition doing excellent business in a prime business location at Wattayah is available for purchase / investment. Interested parties may please call on 97414513 or 96344753 Running prime café for sale or management. Contact 95729427/95208505

FOR HIRE

Seeking an investing partner to run an existing Hospitality business. (Cafe & restaurant). #95517471

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 Cranes and excavators available on hire. Contact 99209427 25/ 50 seater Buses for rent/ leasing with drivers in PDO Speciﬁcation. Contact 99839898

Crane Trailor Hiab. CONTACT 99354909 For Rent Truck Tipper 18 m. Contact 95120774

Silver Car - Car Rental with good rate, Latest saloon cars & 4WDs are available. Contact 96166155 / 24488737

NRI

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

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DAILY GUIDE

COMPUTER

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

SERVICES

WEBSITE

CLASSES

Carpet, sofa- cleaning, glue removing, shampooing, house cleaning, polishing & painting etc. Contact – 99542979 / 98855815

Learn To use all APPS of your phone by an APPS EXPERT Course duration 2 weeks Course fees 30 RO #92174669

House Items shifting. Contact 99557080 / 99380307

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

SERVICES Pest control water proof. Contact 99067923

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

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

Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting, Plumbing, Electrical, shifting. Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C. # 24810137, 99450130 Electrical Works, Maintenance, Building Gas Pipelines, Fire Alarm & Security systems. Contact Amjad Majees Trading & Contracting: 99467936

Painting Interlock plumbing maintenance. Contact 92142319 GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998

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

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

Split & Window A.C Servicing & repairing. Contact 99380307

Marble restoration Crystallization, Cleaning carpets sofas, Villas, Flats. Contact 24701281 / 97463079

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

GULF INTERNATIONAL LLC all kind of pest control.#92326955

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

House shifting, packing and Transportation.#99657644 / 98518013 Electrical Plumbing Painting Contract and Maintenance. Contact #98456535

A/ C maintenance, servicing & installation. Split A/C Servicing RO 10.000 Only. # 94217681 / 99210141

A/C service RO7/- , repairing & installation, painting, building all maintenance. Contact 95563858 / 99326786 Water prooﬁng ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722 Carpet, sofa- cleaning, glue removing, shampooing, house cleaning, polishing & painting etc. Contact – 99542979 / 98855815

Supply of filling material/ zip zap stone/ excavation and building demolishing. Contact 99057348 Marble polishing & crystallization building cleaning floor, floor polishing, carpet, sofa shampooing, pest control, anti termite, shifting, maintenance. Contact 99504275 Split & Window AC Servicing & repairing. Contact 99557080