Times of Oman - November 25, 2014

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TUESDAY, November 25, 2014 / 2 Safar 1436 AH

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HM sends greetings

Even supporters of a plan to tax expat remittances say ...

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The proposed tax on expat remittances has sparked calls for the plan to include protection for low wage earners

REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: A proposed tax on expat remittances should have a minimum salary requirement to protect the poorest workers in the Sultanate, even supporters of the controversial levy have told Times of Oman.

On Sunday, the Majlis Al Shura approved a plan for a two per cent

tax on the money sent home by expatriates. The move, which could bring in OMR60 million per year, was included in a raft of measures designed to help Oman balance its budget in the face of falling oil revenues.

Now, the plan has to be considered by the State Council, but even within the Majlis Al Shura there is divided opinion with some members voting against the majority

who backed the move. “I personally disagree with imposing tax on expatriate workers’ remittances. Tax collected from them is not going to help Omani economy much in overcoming the forecasted revenue fall. A low-paid worker will not be able to bear the taxed amount. He will pass it on to the sponsor. So, eventually, the sponsor or nationals have to bear the amount. It will result in direct tax,” said Tawfiq Al Lawati, Shura member.

“Even though Shura has okayed taxing migrant workers’ remit-

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

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Two siblings killed in Rustaq blaze

Much bigger, better Duqm refinery set to Muscat fest this time be ready by 2019

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Two siblings aged nine and five were killed in a fire incident that gutted a house in Alayah area in the wilayat of Rustaq on Monday, an official at the PACDA said. Fire broke out on the second floor and spread to the children’s room. >A2

A much improved Muscat Festival, which kicks off on January 15, 2015, aims to be much bigger and better this time. The festival will end on February 14 and this will be followed by the Tour of Oman from February 17 to 22. >A4

MARKET

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Construction work of a planned refinery in Duqm with a capacity of 230,000 barrels of crude oil per day is expected to be completed in 2019. Duqm Refinery’s project director said tender for civil work has been floated. >B1

VA L U E S O F C O E X I S T E N C E

LATIN ACADEMY CONFERENCE: The meeting discussed topics on the dialogue of civilisations. -ONA

Delegates praise Oman for promoting culture of peace MUSCAT: Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah met the delegates taking part in the 28th International Conference of Latin Academy on Monday.

Jorge Sampaio, former president of the Portuguese Republic, is the chairman of the conference.

The meet started on November 23 and ends on November 25.

During the meeting, the participants discussed topics related to the dialogue on civilisations and variables in the international arena.

The delegations praised the Sultanate’s remarkable role in

spreading the culture of peace and coexistence among communities.

The meeting was attended by Ahmed bin Yousef Al Harthy, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Diplomatic Affairs and a number of officials of the Foreign Ministry.

-ONA

N U C L E A R S TA L E M AT E

Oman possible venue for Iran talks VIENNA: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif and his US counterpart John Kerry held a last encounter in Vienna on Monday despite the international failure to strike a nuclear deal, a US diplomat said.

A source close to the talks said

Vienna and Oman were possible venues for next month’s discussions. Kerry and Zarif, who appeared to get along well, held about one hour of talks during their eighth meeting in the Austrian capital since they arrived here last week, the State

Department official said.

Kerry, the secretary of state, was due later to give a press conference to hundreds of journalists who covered the talks between six powers and Iran that had sought to secure a historic nuclear deal by midnight on Monday. -AFP

tances, it was agreed only after voting. A few members have opposed it.”

In a report issued by Central Bank of Oman in July this year, the remittances over the past five years were OMR13,621 billion, including OMR2.04b in 2009, OMR2.193b, in 2010, OMR2.774b in 2011, OMR3.109b in 2012 and OMR3.502b in 2013.

“The proposed 2 per cent tax on migrant workers’ remittances will help the nation to overcome the fall in the revenues up to an extent and will help more money to be circulated in the Omani market.

But at the same time, low paid workers will be affected and money exchange houses may lose business,” Anvwar Al Balushi, chairman of Anvwar Asian Investment Group, told Times of Oman. >A6

MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of greetings to Mladen Ivanic, Chairman of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on his country’s National Day. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere greetings along with his best wishes to President Ivanic and his country’s people.

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has also sent a cable of congratulations to President Desi Bouterse of Suriname on his country’s Independence Anniversary.

In his cable, His Majesty the

Sultan has expressed his sincere congratulations along with his best wishes to President Bouterse and his country’s people.

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has also sent a cable of congratulations to Tammam Salam, Prime Minister of Lebanon, on his country’s Independence Anniversary.

In his cable, His Majesty has expressed his sincere congratulations along with his best wishes of good health and wellbeing to Salam and the Lebanese people further progress and welfare. -ONA

S TAT E M E N T

Plans for job freeze REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: A freeze on jobs in the government sector is being considered for the first three months of 2015 due to a fall in revenues, minister responsible for finance affairs said on Monday in a five-hour-long

All set for Times quiz prelims

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meeting at Majlis Al Shura.

“Government has no plans to decrease salaries, stop annual increment, but may consider jobs freeze and will consider the promotion issues only if oil prices better,” Darwish Al Balushi, Sultanate’s Minister Responsible for Financial Affairs, said in the meet. >A6

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

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We have to reeducate our schools and reestablish the connection between this religion and that religion.

Razali Ismail, Chairman, Global Movement of Moderates Foundation

C I V I L AV I AT I O N

Salalah Airport is 93 per cent ready, says Al Futaisi ADEL AL YAFI

AIR CONNECTIVITY: The expansion of Salalah Airport is part of a plan to develop Dhofar as a tourist destination, Dr Ahmed Mohammed Al Futaisi, minister of transport and communications, said.– ONA

MUSCAT: Around 93 per cent of the construction of the new Salalah Airport has been completed, said Dr Ahmed Mohammed Salem Al Futaisi, minister of transport and communications, on Tuesday.

The minister confirmed that construction would be completed by the end of this year.

Al Futaisi clarified that the delay in the construction was due to some technical problems. “We are working to accelerate the process of construction so that the airport is ready soon,” he said.

He explained that Salalah air-

port is qualified to receive international flights and this will contribute to the country’s revenues.

The expansion of Salalah Airport is part of a strategic plan to develop Dhofar as a tourist destination, he added.

Al Futaisi said that Salalah airport would be the second largest airport in the Sultanate and will be equipped with the highest standards of modern technology applicable at international airports.

Most of the work on the terminal was complete except some external work like corridors and painting of some walls with Omani marble, he added.

Asked about the size of the new airport, Futaisi said that the terminal was about 65,000 square metres.

The new terminal envisages an expansion of capacity to one million passengers annually. The airport has been designed to allow for further expansion and can accommodate between 2 and 6 million passengers annually when the demand arises. The construction for the 57-metre control tower was complete while the installation of the navigation devices was nearing completion.

The runway can accommodate all types of aircraft equipped with

the latest navigation and landing system, he added.

All the tests for the runway and the automatic landing system have been completed, confirmed Al Futaisi. He pointed out that the airport was designed to provide top-class services that included a comprehensive retail shopping experience, restaurants and service facilities equipped with all requirements that serve the traveller. There would be 29 elevators and 13 escalators and 8 hoses for travellers to board the aircraft, a VIP building, as well as public parking that can accommodate up to 2200 vehicles.

R U S TA Q B L A Z E

Two siblings killed in fire STAFF REPORTER MUSCAT: Two siblings aged nine and five were killed in a fire incident that gutted a house in Alayah area in the wilayat of Rustaq on Monday, an official at the Public Authority for Civil Defense and Ambulance (PACDA) said.

The incident took place around 4:15 pm. Fire broke out on the second floor and spread to a room where the brother and sister were staying.

Ambulance and a civil defense team rushed to the spot and doused the fire within two hours. Samples from the incident spot were taken for further examination to know the reason behind the incident, said the official. The fire resulted in loss of property, official added.

ROAD TRAGEDY

Two killed in accidents STAFF REPORTER MUSCAT: Two people were killed in separate road accidents on Monday.

While one of them was killed when the vehicle he was driving overturned in the wilayat of Liwa, the other person died in a collision between two vehicles, in the wilayat of Saham.

Meanwhile, two other people were injured in the Saham accident, an official at the Royal Oman Police (ROP) said.

In yet another accident in the wilayat of Yanqul, an oil tanker overturned resulting in minor injuries to two people.

The official added that one person sustained moderate injuries when he lost control of his vehicle in Ibri. The bus driver was arrested.

ROP ACTION

Nationals stranded at sea rescued STAFF REPORTER MUSCAT: Two nationals on board a boat were rescued by Coast Guard vessels of Royal Oman Police (ROP) as they towed the boat — which had broken down in Oman’s regional waters — back to Saham port.

Similarly, two other nationals were rescued after their boat stalled in the sea off the wilayat of Seeb.

Coast Guard has cautioned boat owners to get regular maintenance done of their boats and ensure there is safety equipment and fuel on boats.

Falcon smuggling foiled Officials of the Customs department foiled an attempt by two GCC nationals to smuggle out falcons via the Hafeet border post. An official of the Customs department at the ROP said that after searching the vehicle used for transporting the falcons and other birds, they also found equipment used for hunting in the trunk of the vehicle.

The official added that such birds are considered a rare species in Oman. They are part of the Omani environment and hunting them is prohibited as per Omani law.

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All set for Times quiz prelims person from TOOOQC. Sponsors, who are the support system of the contest, have evinced a great interest in the event this year too.

The main sponsors are Centrepoint, Panasonic and Indomie. The co-sponsors are Al Mudhish, Jindal Shadeed and New India Assurance.

The venue support is provided

by Oman Automobile Association while Travel Point- Travel City is the permanent travel partner. Sixt Rent-a-car is the official renta-car. Other sponsors are Oasis, Sapil, Malabar Gold and Majan Distribution Co LLC.

The prelims of the Times of Oman Open Quiz Contest (TOOOQC) begin from today at the Indian School Ghubra, with 152 teams participating in the contest

Times News Service MUSCAT: The 18th edition of the Times of Oman Open Quiz Contest (TOOOQC) will feature 152 three-member teams in the prelims on Tuesday to be held at the Indian School Ghubra.

The eight top teams from among them will make it to the finals to be fought at the new venue — Oman Automobile Association in Seeb on Thursday.

The prelims will begin at 6 pm and the participants are expected to report at the venue by 5 pm.

Quizmaster Giri ‘Pickbrain’ Bal-

QUIZZING TIME: Quizmaster Giri ‘Pickbrain’ Balasubramaniam,

who arrived in Muscat yesterday, asked participants to focus on teamwork. –File photo

asubramaniam, who arrived in Muscat yesterday, asked participants to focus on teamwork.

“When I used to be an active quizzer what I used to do before a big quiz was just talk to my team mates about what they know and what I know. Many a time this sharing of topics and knowledge helped during the quiz when my teammates would prompt me or help me recall a fact. If I were taking part

in the Times of Oman Open Quiz Contest, this is perhaps what I would have done,” he advised.

On what the participants should expect at the prelims, Giri said, “At an open quiz we do not experiment with the prelims. The objective is to identify the best teams and that should be based on the quality of answers and nothing else. This is something we have always followed. Given the

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wide spectrum of teams that take a prelim (from school children to adults) we always have something in it for everyone to crack.”

Organisers of the TOOOQC are pleased with the response from the quizzers.

“We have a diverse set of participants from across the Sultanate appearing for the prelims. We are happy with the great response we have received,” said a spokes-

Unique team names At the TOOOQC, participants vying for the final spot at the prelims have come up with some unique team names.

Serial Quizzers, The Incontrovertibles, Klewless and Konfuzed and Les Quizerables in addition to Quiztopher Columbus, Quizitive Minds and #Qlassic3 are some of the names. The Motley Crew, Eat, Pray, Memory Lapse and, XQuiz-It’z are the others along with others who are called Quizzibles, Hybrid High Schoolers, The Confused Genius and Quiz Wizards.

Then there are names such as We’re All Nuts, The Royale Titans, Cause -For-Concern, Hopefully Right? and Did You Know? along with The Muscat Mangalyaan, The Geeky Trio and Iyer & Higher.

CABLES

HM receives thanks cable from Saudi King MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has received a cable of thanks from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in reply to His Majesty’s condolences cable on the death of Princess Misha’al bint Mohammad bin Meshal Al Saud. In his cable, King Abdullah expressed his thanks for His Majesty the Sultan’s noble feelings and sincere prayers, praying to Allah to rest the bereaved’s soul in peace and protect His Majesty against all harms. –ONA

CONFERENCE

Tourism meet begins today MUSCAT: The Ministry of Tourism will take part in the 17th session of the Arab Tourism Ministers’ Council’s meeting scheduled to be held from November 25 to 29, being hosted

by Egypt.

The Sultanate’s delegation will be headed by Ahmed bin Nasser Al Meherzi, Minister of Tourism. –ONA

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

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February, 2015 will witness the Tour of Oman competition

M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M

Need to reestablish links among cultures, religions: Ismail SARAH MACDONALD sarah@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Education and economic opportunities are the key to limiting religious extremism, says the chair of a Malaysian NGO who is in Muscat to give a talk on Tuesday at the conference on ‘Shared Values in the World of Multiculturalism,’ organised by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Razali Ismail, a former Malaysian ambassador to the United Nations and now chair of the Global Movement of Moderates Foundation, worries about extremism and a lack of tolerance for multiculturalism. He says countries like Malaysia and Oman, which have diverse populations and religious sects, can be examples to the world and that through education and economic growth that reduces poverty, extremism can be mitigated.

“We have always been an exam-

PRAYER MEET HELD FOR HM An inter-faith prayer service for His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said was conducted by the Sri Lankan community at their Ambassador’s residence. Followers of the four main religions in Sri Lanka: Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and Christianity, participated. -Jun Estrada/ TIMES OF OMAN

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ple of (multiculturalism). When I was a diplomat I talked about the parties in Malaysia being able to work, live, harmonise together,” Ismail said in an interview with Times of Oman.

“I like Oman. I was very impressed by the dedication of many Omanis to make sure that you don’t go astray. You know God has given you this largesse of prosperity but you continue to have the responsibility to be taking care of the minorities, to be taking care of other religions,” Ismail said.

He says governments need to be custodians of pluralism and religious tolerance and that this can be achieved through education.

Teaching people about the ties between different faiths rather than

God has given you this largesse of prosperity but you continue to have the responsibility to be taking care of the minorities, to be taking care of other religions Razali Ismail

Chairman

Global Movement of Moderates Foundation

the difference can help limit intolerance. “We have to reeducate our schools and reestablish the connection between this religion and that religion. In all religions there is dignity and humanity,” he added.

“Education goes beyond schools, “he believes. “There is also a need to educate religious leaders about the genesis of Islam and its intermingling with Christianity,” Ismail asserts.

In Malaysia there have been some incidents of extremists targeting Christian minorities and Chinese minorities, which he attributes to people exploiting differences for political gains.

Globalisation and rapid changes in the world can lead to extremism, Ismail suggested. As societies become less traditional and some people get rich thanks to globalisation, others get left behind and feel discontented with the economic disparity, turning to religious radicalism as a result. Allowing people

to be able to maximise themselves economically can counter that trend, he noted.

Positive examples for youth such as limiting corruption, protecting the environment, and having a fair justice system are all part of the process of ensuring a moderate society in which extremism is less likely to emerge, he said.

In countries which have democracies, all voices have a right to be heard, Ismail says, regardless of whether they are “strident views” or not. He says democracy should allow the ultra-liberals and ultraorthodox parties to speak, but that the government needs to apply principles of moderation within the country for the sake of social cohesion.

“For me, as the chairman of the Global Movement of Moderates, there is no choice other than to recognise multiculturalism, and recognise and reinforce again pluralism,” Ismail concluded.

Muscat Festival from January 15 students who are the target audience of the festival organisers.

There will be more cultural activities this time, said a Muscat Municipality official and it will be staged at three venues – Amerat Park, Naseem Gardens and Azaiba beach

FAHAD AL GHADANI fahadnews@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: A much bigger and improved Muscat Festival, is scheduled to kick off on January 15, 2015.

The festival will conclude on February 14, 2015, and this will be followed by the Tour of Oman from February 17 to 22, 2015.

Preparing for the festival, Muscat Municipality officials revealed to Times of Oman that this time the festival will be different with more attractive activities.

There will be more cultural activities this time, said a reliable source at Muscat Municipality and it will be staged at three venues – Amerat Park, Naseem Gardens and Azaiba beach on the weekends.

“Dividing the activities between Amerat and Naseem parks, the festival this time will witness a number of new events,” said the source. He also said that the Mus-

cat Municipality has announced the closure of the two parks starting from the December 1.

“The closure decision was taken to prepare the two parks for the festival,” said the source.

New activities On being asked about the new activities, the source said that this time there would be more cultural activities along with the activities like Telly Match, Dinosaur village and Ice village. The evenings will witness these different programmes along with lectures, poetry sessions and workshops.

“The municipality has planned a number of activities, but it has run into problems with the implementing companies,” said the source and added that a tender for the Ice Village was issued twice, but no company has responded till now.

The source also said that the municipality is expecting the Telly match village to attract school

Organising committee The Public Affairs Committee at the Muscat Municipality hosted a meeting yesterday morning with the organising committee for the festival. The meeting was headed

by Malik bin Hilal Al Yahmadi, chairman of the committee and included other members along with a number of Muscat Municipality officials. The meeting discussed a number of topics related to the festival.

The meeting also addressed the general budget of the festival and some members recommended reduction in the cost of some events since they did not bring in the expected returns.

The members also stressed on the need to organise various events that contribute to the promotion of the Sultanate.

The meeting discussed the media plan for the promotion and marketing of the festival, emphasising on the development of various television programmes in addition to the activation of social networking for the coverage of the activities.

To ease the burden on the Muscat Municipality staff, the meeting also recommended providing opportunities to the youth for any temporary work and utilising the experience of government and private sector experts.

ROHM SHOW

Paco Peña unites diversity SARAH MACDONALD sarah@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Spanish flamenco guitarist Paco Peña isn’t just a musician, but a visionary and man of peace who unites seemingly different cultures on stage.

For two nights, on Thursday and Sunday, he brought his work to the Royal Opera House Muscat and revealed how Spanish flamenco traditions and West African music and dance can complement each other and coexist in harmony on stage. With two ensembles of musicians and dancers, one flamenco and one African, he highlights the traditions of both cultures and weaves them together beautifully.

Paco Peña has picked up on the similarities in the rhythms and combined them, with the dancers on stage together following the same beats but with different movements. It was quite fascinating to see how to very different styles of dance - the flamenco tight, controlled and passionate, and the African wild, energetic and almost acrobatic - could coexist on stage.

When each ensemble had its own times to shine, the audience was treated to some very impressive art. Among the flamenco pieces there was a stunning performance by one of the women dancers dressed in a white dress with a large white shawl. The way she moved was like poetry

RHYTHM UNITY: Different styles of dance - the flamenco tight, con-

trolled and passionate - and the African - wild, energetic and almost acrobatic - manage to coexist on stage.– Photos Khalid Al Busaidi/ ROHM

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on stage. The African dancers, meanwhile, delighted the audience with their leaps and flips, which were performed with ease and grace.

Towards the end of the first half and through the second half the performance became more political, as the sound of sirens and helicopters filled the theatre, hinting at the efforts made to keep migrants out of Europe.

The African artists speak of their dreams of reaching Europe and question what their dreams

should be once they have arrived after the arduous journey.

The dream for most immigrants is to be accepted. The first part of the second half included a very traditional flamenco party, with the Africans working in the background as servants. But by the end of the party, they, too, join in, and after the party is over, they take over the room celebrating their own roots.

Later, after moments of tension as the two cultures compete and collide, there is an exchange of arts and an understanding. Ultimately Paco Peña shows that there is great value having immigrants in Spain, and they enrich the country and its culture by bringing in their own music and dance, too.

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014 This might be seen as an unwelcome sign for expatriates, especially when they came to the country knowing that it was tax free.

Mohammed Alardhi, chairman of the National Bank of Oman

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The Choose, Change and Become (CCB)

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project has been working in Oman over the past year with the support of a local advisory committee that includes three Omani youth leaders

STAFF REPORTER

MUSCAT: Under the patronage of His Highness Sayyid Faisal bin Turki Al Said, the Rajyoga Centre for Self Development is organising a three-day residential retreat from December 11 to December 13 for selected emerging young leaders of the nation.

Around 100 young leaders from

around the Sultanate are expected to participate in this retreat, which is titled ‘Choose, Change and Become - Leading from the Inside Out’. This programme is part of a larger worldwide programme initiated by young leaders from the Brahma Kumaris International Youth Forum.

Choose, Change and Become (CCB) programmes encourage

young people to choose to lead from within and make choices rooted in values, change attitudes and approach in tasks and relationships, and become an example of peace and stability to inspire and sustain positive action.

CCB aims to help young leaders to develop their inner capacity to make value-based choices and decisions that lead to positive actions for their societies and community.

Expanding the inner capacity gives will power, motivation and positive energy required to sustain the effective application of technical and soft skills within a framework of values.

As the patron of this pro-

gramme, Sayyid Faisal bin Turki Al Said commented, “We have many programmes to develop technical and communication skills, but this programme is unique as it focuses on developing inner capacities. It helps in creating awareness and attitude that energises the self and gives one the inner power to stay true to one’s values.”

The CCB project has been developing successfully in Oman over the past year with the support of a local advisory committee that includes three Omani youth leaders, and it has benefited nearly 150 young leaders till now.

The sessions, designed as a learning laboratory for inner leadership, have helped youth leaders in Oman to recognise the need for young people to strengthen not only their technical/ occupational skills and soft skills, but also to strengthen their inner capacity.

R E M I T TA N C E S

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It’s country’s prerogative to levy tax

Last year, the United Arab Emirates also mulled imposing a tax on remittances of migrant workers.

“This might be seen as an unwelcome sign for expatriates, especially when they came to the country knowing that it was tax free. In the long run it could have an adverse impact on the economy, depending on the flow of expatriates into the country,” said Mohammed Alardhi, chairman of National Bank of Oman.

“It is completely the prerogative of the nation to levy taxes for the growth and development of the nation. If the government decides to impose a tax on outward remittances, we will have to follow it,” said Adeeb Ahamed, managing director of Asia Express Exchange.

“However, it must be understood

that a sizeable chunk of the expatriates are employed in the private sector and most of them are blue collar workers. Levying a two per cent tax on the remittances of the lower income group might burden them,” he added.

The Times of Oman Facebook page received more than 100 comments from concerned workers who echoed the calls to protect the poorest from the levy.

Tanvir Faruk was just one of them, saying, “Taxing expatriate workers has its pros and cons. It will certainly improve the budget deficit of Oman and fill its coffers but will have a big impact on the thousands of blue collar workers already struggling to make a living. I think lower income groups whose salary is say less than

OMR100 a month should be exempted from it.”

Expatriate social workers also said that if the Government wants to impose the tax there should be a minimum level.

“Let the low-paid workers be exempted. Let the Government tax those who are sending bigger amounts home. Taxing a worker who is sending OMR100 every month will destablise his budget badly,” said some.

A tax expert from Ernst and Young in Oman said that there are two ways to impose a tax on remittances.

“The first is to tax wages assuming that a large share would be used as remittances. In that case, a tax on remittance is essentially an income tax. Another way is to tax

the act of sending money at money transfer houses. Interestingly, a study proved that remittance outflows exert deflationary pressures on inflation. Thus a positive effect is there, apart from the contribution of tax to the budget,” said Manjot Singh, executive director of Business Tax Advisory Services in Ernst and Young.

“However, the process of implementation of remittance tax requires a comprehensive framework, to be effective,” he added.

On the downside for Oman, he said that remittance tax drives the flows to informal channels.

“Moreover, it could make highly skilled manpower difficult to attract and more expensive for the already struggling businesses in Oman,” he added.

P R I VAT E S E C T O R E M P L O Y M E N T

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A1 Plan to cut public expenses According to the minister, the current vacancies will be filled but there will be a freeze on new recruitments in the government sector.

“Public expenses in the annual budget is expected to reach OMR15 billion in 2015. We have plans to employ more nationals in private sector as a solution to reduce the public expenses,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, answering to the queries of the Shura members, the minister also said that oil price is expected to increase to $90 to 95 per barrel in 2015 and the situation will be better.

17 firms making losses The minister also said that out of the 60 government-run companies, 17 are making losses and issues on money spent on oil and

gas production and fair value of gas were also discussed.

“We sought answers from the minister on whether it is viable to spend more money on oil and gas projects for the next five years when the oil prices are going down,” Tawfiq Al Lawati, Shura member, told Times of Oman.

“Now, a report will be prepared and will forwarded to State Council,” the Shura member added.

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

REGION

Veteran Tunisian politician Beji Caid Essebsi, whose party placed first in a parliamentary election last month, looked set to fall short of the 50 per cent threshold required to win outright, his campaign team conceded

CLOSE CONTEST

Tunisia set for an expected runoff in landmark election TUNIS: The battle for an expected runoff for the Tunisian presidency got under way on Monday before the first round results were even in from the landmark election.

Veteran politician Beji Caid Essebsi, whose party placed first in a parliamentary election last month, looked set to fall short of the 50 per cent threshold required to win outright, his campaign team conced-

ed. He is poised to face off against incumbent Moncef Marzouki, a secular politician who has made common cause with the hardliners against what he says is an attempt at a comeback by former loyalists of the autocratic regime overthrown in 2011.

The election is a milestone for the North African nation, whose ouster of long-time leader Zine

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El Abidine Ben Ali set off a chain of protests. US Secretary of State John Kerry hailed an “historic moment” in Tunisia’s transition to WAV E O F I N C I D E N T S

‘Israel backs a policy of shoot-to-kill’ OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Human rights groups have accused Israel of encouraging a shoot-to-kill policy after a wave of incidents in which police shot dead Palestinians involved in, or accused of, attacking Israelis.

The alleged practice of killing suspects without trying to arrest them has caused concern after a series of deadly Palestinian attacks also resulted in the perpetrators’ deaths—and not always at the scene. In a rare move, an occupied Jerusalem court indicted a border police officer after he shot and killed, apparently unprovoked, a Palestinian during a demonstration . — AFP

democracy, and pledged Washington’s support for the next government, whoever leads it.

Tunisian leaders pride themselves on the fact that the country has been spared the bloodshed that has ravaged other Arab countries such as Libya and Yemen and, despite fears of disruption by militants, polling day passed off peacefully. But the expected run-

off scheduled for late next month is likely to be polarising, with Marzouki’s camp portraying him as the last line of defence against a return to the autocratic ways of the old regime, and his opponent deriding him as a hardliner’s pawn.

In a speech late Sunday, Marzouki called on “all democratic forces” to back him against Essebsi, who served under both Ben

Ali and his predecessor Habib Bourguiba. “I am now calling on all democratic forces... alongside whom I have campaigned for the past 30 years for a real democracy, for a break with the past, for a genuine civil society and for a separation of powers, I call on them to unite around their candidate. I have become their natural candidate.” — AFP

Flash floods kill 32 in Morocco The army deployed helicopters to evacuate dozens of people, including some foreigners, in some areas

IN DANGER: Drivers and a truck are stranded in flood waters in

the southern region of Ouarzazate in Morocco. – AFP

threatened by rising river levels

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RABAT: Floods triggered by heavy rain have killed at least 32 people, swept away buildings, vehicles and roads and forced the evacuation of more than 200 people in southern Morocco, authorities said on Monday.

Residents described three days of rains as the heaviest to hit southern Morocco in decades State television channel 2M showed local residents expressing anger after their homes were submerged near the town of Errachidia. The prolonged closure of many national roads could

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N .C O M

prompt further angry protests, media said. Morocco’s King Mohamed has given orders to the authorities to take “all necessary emergency measures to help and support victims of the floods”, a palace statement said.

“We have lost everything, everything. Now our families will sleep in the cold,” said a woman in the Errachidia region, where around 60 houses had been destroyed.

“Their (the authorities’) previous programmes to restore our mud houses did not save us, our houses were just swept away” she told the 2M channel.

Of the 32 confirmed deaths, 24 occurred in the region of Guelmim, a desert town, the interior ministry said, adding that six people were still missing.

The army deployed helicopters to evacuate dozens of people, including some foreigners, in some areas threatened by rising river levels, the official news agency MAP reported. Local news websites showed floods sweeping away cars, tracks and roads in several regions, including Guelmim and Marrakesh. — Agencies

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PM reaches out to Opposition; seeks support

UPBEAT: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with his cabinet colleagues Venkaiah Naidu, Mukhtar

Abbas Naqvi, Jitendra Singh and Rajiv Pratap Rudy, arrives to address the media during the opening day of the winter session of Parliament in New Delhi, on Monday. - PTI

The winter session will continue until December 23 and will have 22 sittings.

The government is focused on passing at least 37 bills during this session

S. MOITRA

Our Correspondent NEW DELHI: Anticipating a stormy winter session of Parliament, which began on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to opposition parties, seeking their cooperation to make it ‘result-oriented and fruitful’.

“The people have given us the

mandate of running the government but all members of parliament (MPs) have the responsibility of running the country. In this cold weather and with a cool mind, we have to do a lot of work,” the prime minister told the media on his way to Parliament.

Seeking constructive role Urging the opposition parties to play ‘a constructive role’ this time, just like they did during the budget session, Modi added, “In the last session, because of the Opposition, a lot of work was done. I hope this session will also be fruitful and result-oriented.”

However, both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day as a sign of respect for three senior parliamentarians who died, including former petroleum minister and veteran Congress leader Murli Deora who passed away at a hospital in Mumbai in the wee hours of Monday.

The Winter session will continue till December 23 and will have 22 sittings.

The government is focused on passing at least 37 bills, including

the Insurance Bill, which seeks to enhance the cap on foreign direct investment in the sector. However, the Opposition parties have promised a united attack on the government this session.

From Tuesday, when the Houses sit for business, they plan to stonewall the government’s efforts to move key legislation, including the Insurance Bill, and corner it on the black money issue. “This session will witness a lot of chaos. We, along with parties such as the Trinamool, CPM and others will oppose the Insurance Bill,” said Janata Dal (United) lawmaker K.C. Tyagi.

Trinamool reaction Trinamool leader Derek O’Brien added, “There is no question of passing the bill. First let it be taken up, clause by clause, in the select committee.”

However, the Congress, which is the largest Opposition party, has not made clear its stand. “We will discuss the insurance bill with all opposition parties and try to make a unanimous decision,” said Congress leader Kamal Nath.

INDIA

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

INDIA DON’T DROP DEAD DROP YOUR PHONE

Grinding stone manufacturing is now a dying industry.

But it has not totally vanished and it will be some years before it is replaced totally by electric grinders Syed Mohammed, Artisan

Grinding stone manufacturing a dying industry In Mangaluru, there used to be 25 stone quarries with more than 125 artisans engaged in making stone grinders. The

DYING CRAFT: Stones from which the grinding tools are sculpted

scene has changed

are also used in religious ceremonies at Shivamogga, Chitradurga and Davangere. - Aftab H. Kola/TIMES OF OMAN

today with the demand dwindling

AFTAB H. KOLA

Our Correspondent MANGALURU: In a village in Munnur near here, Shareef is a worried man these days because grinding stones, which were once a part and parcel of Indian kitchens, are now on the verge of extinction.

Shareef, who has carried forward the legacy of making grinding stones from his forefathers, said that the demand for traditional grinding tools has dropped drastically with the advent of electrical and electronic grinding machines.

Similar is the fate of the grinding stone in places like Shivamogga, Hosur, Honalli, and other places in Karnataka where the sight of the stone does not attract attention any more.

Though a majority of homes have at least one electric grinder, a few homes with traditional families still prefer to use the grinding stone. They say the taste of the

batter differs a lot and it comes in handy when the power is cut off.

Akhila, a resident of BC Road near here, says, “We have the grinding stone but we only use it for making chilli paste. Earlier, we used to make idli, dosa batter and chutneys, but these are readily available now as ready-tomake packets.”

Stones from which the grinding tools are sculpted are also used in religious ceremonies at Shivamogga, Chitradurga and Davangere.

In Paluru village of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, there are many such stone cutters who are engaged in the trade. However, even here the families engaged in the trade have dwindled. It is a visual sight to see these people artistically sculpt a piece of stone into a grinding stone. Though it doesn’t have too many takers those already in the business have continued their profession.

Here, a 12-inch grinding stone costs up to Rs 1,500 and the cost rises with the size. There are people like Devraj in the village, who once used to chisel the grinding stones, but have now

opted to sculpt statues for temples since the demand and profit give better returns.

In Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka of which Mangaluru is the main district, there used to be 25 stone quarries with more than 125 artisans engaged in making stone grinders. The scene has changed today with the demand dwindling.

Kunhi Mohammed, a resident of Mudipu village in Dakshina Kannada district, who specialises in removing the right-sized stones for mortars and pestles from the quarry, says that though he has worked for over three decades, the business and the art will vanish in the next couple of years, at least from this village.

Moreover, the artisans now want their children to pursue education instead of indulging in the chiselling business.

“Grinding stone manufacturing is now a dying industry. But it has not totally vanished and it will be some years before it is replaced totally by electric grinders,” says Syed Mohammed who is determined to carry on the trade come what may.

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AT TA C K

Polio worker wounded in Taliban firing PESHAWAR: Taliban gunmen wounded a polio health worker in northwest Pakistan on Monday, at the start of a fresh campaign to vaccinate children against the crippling disease, officials said.

Two attackers fired bullets at the vaccinator as he came out of a health centre in Shabqadar district, around 30 kilometres from Peshawar, the main city of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

Pakistan is one of only three countries where polio remains endemic as attempts to stamp it out have been badly hit by opposition from militants and attacks on immunisation teams that have claimed around 62 lives since December 2012.

Shafiullah Khan, district police chief in Charsada, told AFP the two gunmen on a motorbike sprayed the vaccinator with bullets, hitting him in the head. He was shifted to a hospital in Peshawar.

The health worker was part of a three-day campaign that began Monday aiming to vaccinate around 2.7 million children in 21 districts against polio.

A hardline breakaway faction of the Taliban, Jamatul Ahrar, claimed responsibility for the attack.

The militants have in the past claimed that the polio vaccination is a cover for espionage or a Western conspiracy to sterilise Muslims.

Officials say the number of polio cases recorded in Pakistan has reached 246 for the year — a 14-year high. — AFP

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PAKISTAN

Swiss jewels never belonged to Benazir, claims PPP aide There is therefore no question that it

After appearing before the Swiss magistrate and recording her statement Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto also addressed a press conference in Geneva denying ownership of the jewellery or Swiss companies involved in money laundering Farhatullah Babar

does not belong to her legal heirs or to Asif Ali Zardari. Let there be no doubt or mistake about it, said Farhatullah Babar

Pakistan People’s Party spokesperson

Benazir Bhutto

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Monday refuted the verdict of a Swiss tribunal that ruled that a valuable jewellery, seized in connection with investigations into the SGS case, belonged to the legal heirs of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

“The piece of jewellery never belonged to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

“There is therefore no question that it does not belong to her legal heirs or to Asif Ali Zardari. Let

there be no doubt or mistake about it,” the PPP spokesperson Farhatullah Babar stated.

The set, which includes a necklace, a bracelet, a pair of earrings and a ring and is said to be valued over $180,000 was seized by authorities in connection with investigations into graft allegations.

“Any assertion that the jewellery belonged to the legal heirs of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto is based on totally wrong and incorrect assumption that

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it actually belonged to her,” the senator added.

The PPP spokesperson who served during the tenure of Benazir Bhutto and former president Asif Ali Zardari claimed that though he had not yet seen the so called latest ruing of the Swiss tribunal but on the basis on his association with the case from its inception to the end he could assert this confidently.

Babar recalled that on September 19, 2005 Benazir Bhutto had

personally appeared before the Swiss Investigation Magistrate in Geneva and categorically denied purchasing the jewellery or ownership of Swiss companies involved in money laundering.

“After appearing before the Swiss magistrate and recording her statement Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto also addressed a press conference in Geneva denying ownership of the jewellery or Swiss companies involved in money laundering,” he said.

Babar further said in one of the hearings the owner of the jewellery shop denied having any knowledge of who Benazir Bhutto was and so stated that she did not purchase the jewellery from him.

“All this is on record and can be verified from the records of the proceedings before the Swiss magistrate and the newspapers’ archives at that time.”

Seizure of jewellery He also upheld that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) at that time claimed that a jewellery set had been seized from Mohtarma’s safe in Geneva but later it was proven before the Magistrate that the former prime minister did not have a safe in Geneva.

“It had also been claimed at the time that Jens Schlaglemilch was the agent of Mohtarma which too was proven false as per the testimony of Schlaglemilch himself,” he added.

Babar further recalled that it was the same case which the Supreme Court of Pakistan had set aside the conviction awarded by the Trial Court in Pakistan and also passed stinging strictures against the trial judge.

— Express Tribune

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Historic pursuit of an oddly shaped comet

I

t took more than a decade, and a looping trajectory that covered 4 billion miles, before a spacecraft launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) caught up with a mysterious comet near Jupiter in August – and three more months before it gently lowered an automated probe to study what makes these primordial remnants from the early solar system tick. Last-minute malfunctions hampered the ability of the probe to complete its inspection of surface and subsurface conditions. Even so, the mission appears to be a history-making achievement. The spacecraft is named Rosetta, and like the stone that helped researchers decipher Egyptian hieroglyphics, scientists hope this mission will help decipher clues to the formation of the solar system 4.5 billion years ago. The comet - known inelegantly as 67P/ Churyumov-Gerasimenko - is a small irregular glob of ice, dust and rocks less than 3 miles across, with a boulder-strewn surface that has only a small number of spots suitable for landing. Rosetta has already scored two significant firsts. It is the first spacecraft ever to fly alongside and orbit a comet, not just fly by it, and it will stay close for more than a year to observe the comet as it goes from a quiescent state to an active emitter of gases as it draws closer to the sun. It will be the most sustained research ever conducted on one of these elusive bodies.

Rosetta is also the first spacecraft to send an automated probe to the surface of a comet, allowing close study of its composition. The flight presented formidable technical challenges.

Things did not go quite well when the automated probe was lowered to the surface. It can’t be steered; it simply floats gently down, drawn by the minuscule gravity of the comet. It was supposed to be held to the surface by reverse thrusters pressing it down and two harpoons fastening it to the surface. Neither system worked, so the probe bounced lazily twice before landing in a tilted position against a cliff with its solar panels largely shaded. Despite the setback, the probe was able to collect and transmit data for 57 hours before its batteries died and it went into hibernation. Project scientists claim they have made important discoveries. They have learned, for example, that the comet is not as soft as they expected but has a hard surface below a layer of dust.

But several experiments misfired. For instance, the shutters on an instrument meant to shoot X-rays at materials to analyse their composition failed to open, and a rod meant to measure heat flow broke.

Meanwhile, an instrument on the spacecraft came up with readings at odds with scientific speculation that comets like this one may have bombarded Earth with enough water over the ages to fill much of the oceans. We’ll learn more when researchers present their findings at a professional conference next month. The probe may revive as the comet gets closer to the sun. It will continue to monitor the comet on its journey around the sun, producing the most extensive information ever about these vagabonds of the solar system. -New York Times News Service

WORLD WATCH

China’s new economic and geopolitical clout

T

JEFFREY D. SACHS

Preserving Khan Klub

T

errorism and regional conflict might be contributing factors that have led to the decay afflicting our cultural heritage, but our own negligence has played a much larger role in this regard. One historic building after the other keeps disappearing without much effort having been put to conserve them. The Khan Klub, a famous tourist spot when Peshawar used to be a centre of attraction for foreign and local tourists, has seen its glory fade like the rest of the city and the province, and is now used as a godown to store flour. This historic structure was much more than just a hotel. It was, and is, an architectural gem, which was built more than 200 years ago. As is true for several other heritages sites, the years that followed the 9/11 incident, saw Khan Klub first running short of visitors and then dying a death of neglect. While our narrative as a nation has been heavily marked by incessant commentary on our resilience, our actions have been contrary to it. The important question here is: what do we do to return to our glory days once the dust of violence settles?

If the physical structures that represent the diversity of our cultures are wiped out, it will not only erode our history, but affect future generations in ways unimaginable. The government needs to get serious about preserving what remains of our common cultural heritage. It can make a start in this regard by taking steps to restore and renovate Khan Klub. According to reports, Peshawar has more than 300 sites that can be opened for tourism. Currently, there are only a few that remain open to the public and even fewer that are kept in a state that will see them survive the next decade. The senseless construction that has taken place within the centuries-old walled city, accompanied by a population explosion, is threatening what remains of Old Peshawar.

While the construction of newer buildings is often important, this in no way gives anyone the licence to override tradition. Talking and dreaming about our ‘glorious past’ is not enough. That glory needs to be preserved for the dream to remain intact. -The Express Tribune

Inside view of the United Nations quite unflattering Shashi Tharoor’s article ‘Politics behind the election of UN Secretary-General’ made an interesting reading. It revealed the intricate behind-the-scene manoeuvres of the big wigs (Times of Oman, November 17). To a lay person like me, the UN is an institution tasked with overseeing the democratic strengthening of its member states. But one was aghast to note the way its own elections are conducted.

It appears to lack transparency and accountability — the basic tenets on which the edifice of democratic institutions rest.

The world knows too well by now that Tharoor lost the 2006 elections despite getting 10 expressions, just because the US played spoilsport for obvious

As China flexes its geopolitical muscles, the only foreign policy that the US systematically pursues is unceasing and fruitless war in the Middle East

he biggest economic news of the year came almost without notice: China has overtaken the United States as the world’s largest economy, according to the scorekeepers at the International Monetary Fund. And, while China’s geopolitical status is rising rapidly, alongside its economic might, the US continues to squander its global leadership, owing to the unchecked greed of its political and economic elites and the self-made trap of perpetual war in the Middle East. According to the IMF, China’s GDP will be $17.6 trillion in 2014, outstripping US output of $17.4 trillion. Of course, because China’s population is more than four times larger, its per capita GDP, at $12,900, is still less than a quarter of the $54,700 recorded in the US, which highlights America’s much higher living standards.

China’s rise is momentous, but it also signifies a return. After all, China has been the world’s most populous country since it became a unified state more than 2,000 years ago, so it makes sense that it would also be the world’s largest economy. And, indeed, the evidence suggests that China was larger (in terms of purchasing power parity) than any other economy in the world until around 1889, when the US eclipsed it. Now, 125 years later, the rankings have reversed again, following decades of rapid economic development in China. With rising economic power has come growing geopolitical clout. Chinese leaders are feted around the world. Many European countries are looking to China as the key to stronger domestic growth.

African leaders view China as their countries’ new indispensable growth partner, particularly in infrastructure and business development.

Similarly, economic strategists and business leaders in Latin America now look to China at least as much as they look to the US. China and Japan seem to be taking steps toward better relations, after a period of high tensions. Even Russia has recently “tilted” toward China, establishing stronger connections on many fronts, including energy and transport.

Like the US after World War II, China is putting real money on the table – a lot of it – to build strong economic and infrastructure links with countries around the world. This will enable other countries to boost their own growth, while cementing China’s global economic and geopolitical leadership.

The number of Chinese initiatives is staggering.

In just the past year, China has launched four major projects that promise to give it a greatly expanded role in global trade and finance. China joined Russia, Brazil, India, and South Africa in establishing the New Development Bank, to be based in Shanghai. A new Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, to

reasons. What left an even worse aftertaste is the fact that the truth came out from the horse’s mouth. In his memoir, the then US Ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, has said that it was US that quashed his candidature. He has quoted Condolezza Rice telling him that US prefers a man from an allied country but a weak person. Will 2016 see a woman getting this post. If so, will it be Helen Clark?

With the Ukraine shadow chasing Russia, the game is getting murkier by the day.

Usha Devi Rao Suddapalli Ruwi

READERS’ FORUM

Isn’t it a case of the pot calling the kettle black?

Acceptance is not submission; it is acknowledgement of the facts of a situation.

KATHLEEN CASEY THEISEN

This refers to the letter, ‘Negative thinking does no good to anyone’,

NEW INDIA ASSURANCE New India’s PERSONAL ACCIDENT INSURANCE offers you world-wide cover/ protection and TRAVEL INSURANCE that ensures you tension-free travels. website: www.newindiaoman.com

be based in Beijing, will help to fund infrastructure projects throughout the region. The New Silk Road land belt seeks to connect China with the economies of East Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, and Europe through an expanded grid of rail, highways, power, fibre, and other networks. And the new 21st Century Maritime Silk Road is aimed at boosting oceanbased trade in East Asia and the Indian Ocean. All told, these various initiatives are likely to leverage hundreds of billions of dollars in investment over the coming decade, speeding growth in the counterpart countries while deepening their production, trade, and financial linkages with China.

There is no guarantee that all of this will succeed or proceed smoothly. China faces huge internal challenges, including high and rising income inequality, massive air and water pollution, the need to move to a low-carbon economy, and the same risks of financialmarket instabilities that bedevil the US and Europe.

And if China becomes too aggressive toward its neighbours – for example, by demanding rights to offshore oil or territory in disputed waters – it will generate a serious diplomatic backlash. No one should assume smooth sailing for China in the years ahead.

Still, it is striking that just as China is rising economically and geopolitically, the US seems to be doing everything possible to waste its own economic, technological, and geopolitical advantages. The US political system has been captured by the greed of its wealthy elites, whose narrow goals are to cut corporate and personal tax rates, maximize their vast personal fortunes, and curtail constructive US leadership in global economic development. They so scorn US foreign assistance that they have thrown open the doors to China’s new global leadership in development financing. Even worse, as China flexes its geopolitical muscles, the only foreign policy that the US systematically pursues is unceasing and fruitless war in the Middle East. The US endlessly drains its resources and energy in Syria and Iraq in the same way that it once did in Vietnam. China, meanwhile, has avoided becoming enmeshed in overseas military debacles, emphasizing win-win economic initiatives instead.

China’s economic rise can contribute to global wellbeing if its leaders emphasise investment in infrastructure, clean energy, public health, and other international priorities. Still, the world would be better off if the US also continued to lead constructively, alongside China. The recent announcement

by Presidents Barack Obama and Xi Jinping of bilateral agreements on climate change and clean energy show the best of what’s possible. America’s perpetual war-making in the Middle East shows the worst. -Project Syndicate

published in Times of Oman on November 24. It is precisely the negative thinking and all too apparent bias of the “esteemed” journalist that has attracted the ire of so many readers. One would be hard-pressed to find such write-ups in any respectable Indian media of a stature comparable to Times of Oman. Inability to distinguish between medicinal pills and poison pills cannot be camouflaged by searching for nonexistent truths through jaundiced eyes or by attributing shortsightedness to others, which is akin to the pot calling the kettle black!

K S Nayak MBD

Misled by an unreal view of the situation in India This refers to the letter, ‘Nega-

tive thinking...’, published in the Times of Oman. The readers are intelligent enough to differentiate between articles which are genuine criticism of the obtaining state of affairs in a particular country or region, from the ones which are written to target a particular segment of the population or a situation. It is the authors who repeatedly harp on the same subject as if running a campaign. That, in my opinion, is unprofessional journalistic work and hence does not make for pleasant reading at all. No reader, I am sure, would object to any article which portrays the reality of the day. To make long things short, it is not only the contents of the article but the motive of the writer who has penned it which attracts the attention of the reader.

Krishnan R MBD

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

T I M E S OF OM AN

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

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PERSPEC IVE The inexorable approach of a black elephant stampede I

participated in the World Parks Congress in Sydney last week and learned a new phrase: “a black elephant.” A black elephant, explained the London-based investor and environmentalist Adam Sweidan, is a cross between “a black swan” (an unlikely, unexpected event with enormous ramifications) and the “elephant in the room” (a problem that is visible to everyone, yet no one still wants to address it) even though we know that one day it will have vast, black-swan-like consequences.

“Currently,” said Sweidan, “there are a herd of environmental black elephants gathering out there” global warming, deforestation, ocean acidification, mass extinction and massive freshwater pollution.

“When they hit, we’ll claim they were black swans no one could have predicted, but, in fact, they are black elephants, very visible right now.” We’re just not dealing with them at the scale necessary. If they all stampede at once, watch out. No, this is not an eco-doom column. This one has a happy ending sort of. The International Union for Conservation of Nature holds the parks congress roughly every 10 years to draw attention to the 209,000 protected areas, which cover 15.4 percent of the planet’s terrestrial and inland water areas and 3.4 percent of the oceans, according to the IUCN. I could have gone to the Brisbane G-20 summit meeting, but I thought this was more important and interesting. A hall full of park exhibits and park rangers from America, Africa and Russia, focused on one goal: guarding and expanding protected areas, which are the most powerful tools we have to restrain the environmental black elephants. How so? It starts with a simple fact: Protected forests, marine sanctuaries and national parks are not zoos. “They are the basic life support systems” that provide the clean air and water, food, fisheries, recreation, stable temperatures and natural coastal protections “that sustain us humans,” said Russ Mittermeier, a leading primatologist.

That’s why “conservation is self-preservation,” says Adrian Steirn, the South Africa-based photographer who spoke here. Every dollar we invest in protecting natural systems earns or saves multiple dollars back. Walking around the exhibit halls here, I was hit with the reality that what we call “parks” are really the heart, lungs, and circulatory systems of the world - and they’re all endangered.

Onodelgerekh Batkhuu, the director of the Mongol Ecology Center, stops me to explain that Lake Hovsgol National Park in Mongolia, which holds 70 percent of the surface freshwater of Mongolia - 2 percent of the world’s freshwater - and is the headwaters for 20 percent of the world’s freshwater that is in Lake Baikal in Siberia, is now under huge pressure from hoteliers.

John Gross, an ecologist with the U.S. National Park Service, who has worked in Yellowstone for 20 years, uses a NASA simulation to show me how

THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN

Walking around the exhibit halls here, I was hit with the reality that what we call ‘parks’ are really the heart, lungs, and circulatory systems of the world — and they’re all endangered

the average temperature in Yellowstone has been rising and the impact this is having on the snowpack, which is now melting earlier each spring, meaning more water loss through evaporation and rapid runoff, lengthening the fire season. But, hey, it’s just a park, right? People forget: Yellowstone National Park is “the major source of water for both the Yellowstone and the Snake Rivers,” said Gross. “Millions of people need those two rivers.”

Yellowstone’s snowpack is their water tower, and its forest their water filters. What happens in Yellowstone, doesn’t stay in Yellowstone.

Via Skype, I got to interview Emmanuel de Merode, director of Virunga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its mountain gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo. “No park in Africa has this diversity of species,” said de Merode, who has been shot several times. But, again, this isn’t just an outdoor zoo. With just a little investment, explains de Merode, the park’s rivers could provide 100 megawatts of electricity from hydropower, as well as fisheries, eco-tourism and sustainable agriculture that would create thousands of jobs for the poor communities on its border. If war-ravaged Democratic Republic of Congo is to be stabilised, it will likely start from Virunga.

Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, Costa Rica’s former minister of environment and energy and now a vice president of Conservation International, explains to me the politics of parks - and the difference between countries that have their forest service under the minister of agriculture and those where the forest service is under the minister of environment or independent. Agriculture ministers see natural forests and parks “as timber that should be chopped down for something ‘productive,’ like soybeans, cattle or oil palm,” Rodríguez said. Forest services and environment ministers “see their forests as carbon stocks, biodiversity reservoirs, water factories, food production plants, climate adaptation machines and tourism sites,” and protect them. Guess who’s in the first group? Honduras and Guatemala, where many people live on degraded hillsides. Some 50,000 children have been sent from Central America to the U.S. this year - unaccompanied. Where did they come from? Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, Central America’s most deforested states. They cut their forests; we got their kids.

I promised you good news - sort of. It’s how many people are now focusing on the economic and national security value of their ecosystems. But the power that financiers and corrupt politicians still hold in setting the limits on what we can and cannot destroy in nature - as opposed to the scientists and biologists - remains the bad news. As Adam Sweidan put it, in too many places we’ve still got “the vampires in charge of the blood banks.” It has to stop, not so we “save the planet.” The planet will always be here. This is about us. -The New York Times News Service

Websites for young women feeding a market

IAN BURRELL

T

here’s a type of early twentysomething woman who picks up her mobile phone even before she climbs out of bed.

During the course of the day she will fish out that phone from her bag an average of 110 times. It’s no wonder that The Debrief – the digital-only product from Bauer Me-

dia that is chasing this audience – is warning readers of the longterm damage over-use of smartphones can do to spinal cords.

Across British media there is a new wave of digital content being aimed at young women, demonstrating originality and a flair for design that outshines most content served to male audiences.

As a first-time mum at 27, Motherland founder and editorin-chief Charlotte Philby says she looked for relevant media but “nothing I came across seemed to reflect myself and my friends and where we were at with our lives”.

Her site is aimed at “Millennials” (up to the age of 34) as they enter the world of parenting and – she claims – fills a gap in the market.

Times journalist Wendy Ide has compiled a series of alternatives to the films kids obsess over – she suggests Japanese animation

Princess Mononoke as a break for mothers exhausted by repeat views of Frozen. Wine writer Alex Whyte recommends the best wine bars in Paris.

The tone is “fun, irreverent, thoughtful and non-judgmental”, says Philby, a former staffer on The Independent. “Whereas you go on something like Mumsnet and you feel like there are these different camps. It’s so intimidating and confusing.”

While women complain of a lack of opportunities in traditional media outlets, the internet has been liberating for many mothers who have found they can continue to work away from the office. Content aimed at women online has become a “very busy category”, Erin Hudson, leading the digital department at media agency Carat, tells me.

The Standard Issue is another

new broad interest women’s digital magazine that launched recently and features contributions from numerous female comedians, such as Sarah Millican.

The Debrief last week won the Innovation of the Year category at the annual awards of magazine trade body the Professional Publishers Association. The product is transfixed on reaching readers on their phones.

It is aimed at women who are not yet contemplating motherhood but have it on the edge of their radar. But the site doesn’t shy away from contentious issues. “She is an online activist”, says Brett as she imagines her reader picking up her smartphone for the 110th time that day, “she absolutely believes that women should be economically, socially and politically equal.”

The changing face of politics status quo. “The American public sent a message through this election of new governors,” said Hickenlooper, a Democrat whose familiarity with their résumés reflects his current position as the chairman of the National Governors Association. And to his ears, the public was saying that it’s desperate for more effective, efficient government and willing to see if leaders with “serious executive management experience” can deliver it.

Richard Celeste, the former Democratic governor of Ohio, agreed. “People chose governors who brought, presumably, very credible private-sector experience,” he said. “I don’t think it’s about ideology - conservative versus liberal - but about this notion: We really do want government to work.”

He and other observers cautioned that each gubernatorial race had its own context and currents, many of them more potent than any overarching trend. In Illinois, for example, Rauner toppled a Democratic incumbent, Pat Quinn, who seemed ripe for defeat no matter his opponent. “But everybody’s frustrated,” said Bradley Tusk, a strategist who works in state and local politics nationwide. “People are looking for alternatives.”

Some candidates with strong private-sector ties also have financial advantages, in terms of their personal wealth and fundraising connections.

Their most lucrative asset, though, may be their ability to present themselves as political outsiders, a claim that seemingly eclipses even the taint of the trades in which they profited. Some of these new governors come from professions venture capital, private equity, stocks - that have come under withering scrutiny over the last decade. But in a country convinced that government is broken and its servants hopeless, perhaps plutocrats are cuddlier than bureaucrats.

Will their business backgrounds lead to better results?

A state isn’t a company; the lawmakers in a Legislature aren’t employees obliged to follow orders. But there are indeed examples of well-regarded governors right now who draw on private-sector management experience.

They include Jack Markell of Delaware, a Democrat, and Bill Haslam of Tennessee, a Republican, both of whom are frequently singled out for praise by political observers. Hickenlooper said that the country’s Founding Fathers “didn’t intend such a large percentage of public servants to have worked only in government.” And he asserted that “many of the lessons of business can apply to state government.”

I’ll buy that. And I agree with him wholeheartedly on this: “You can argue that government should be smaller or bigger or this or that,” he said. “Either way, it needs to work.”- New York Times

FRANK BRUNI

J

ust two years ago, during his first term at the helm of Colorado, John Hickenlooper did a quick mental survey of his fellow governors and realised something that he found surprising.

By his very rough count, only about five governors, including him, had spent a significant chunk of their professional lives in the private sector and in roles that included the management of dozens of employees. The other governors, many of them career politicians, didn’t have that kind of managerial experience.

But when Hickenlooper, who once ran a small empire of restaurants, took stock of the 11 new governors elected November 4, his surprise was the exact opposite. Most of them have precisely such experience and have achieved enormous success in the private sector, where many of them have spent much more time than they have in public office.

Doug Ducey, the Republican governor-elect of Arizona, worked as the chief executive of Cold Stone Creamery, the ice cream parlour chain. His government service is limited to his last four years as the state’s treasurer. Gina Raimondo, the Democratic governor-elect of Rhode Island, also didn’t enter politics until four years ago.

Like Ducey, she’s her state’s treasurer. And like him, she’s best known for what she did in business. She started Rhode Island’s first venture capital firm.

Tom Wolf, the Democratic governor-elect of Pennsylvania, was the state’s secretary of revenue from April 2007 to November 2008, but that short stint pales beside the many years he spent running a big family business that specialises in kitchen cabinets. Larry Hogan, the Republican governor-elect of Maryland, has never held elective office before but spent three decades running a real estate development company that he founded. In a column two weeks ago, my Times colleague David Brooks noted the elections of Hogan and of Bruce Rauner of Illinois, who ran a private equity firm, as examples of the Republican Party’s re-establishment of its roots in business community.

But the bigger group of governors-elect from both parties also suggests a larger lesson, shedding light on the mood of an electorate fed up with the

-The Independent

Netflix global expansion Just months after pushing further into Europe, Netflix says it will launch its video streaming service in Australia and New Zealand in 2015

Global Reach

2012-2014: Streaming video launches in Europe beginning with UK and Ireland

2010 Rolls out video streaming service in Canada

53m

4

3

1

subscribers worldwide

58

countries receive Netflix

2011: Expands video streaming to South America, bar Cuba

2007: Introduces streaming video service via internet

Currently available in: US, Canada, Latin America/Caribbean (43 countries), U.K., Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland

300 200 100

May 29, 2002, IPO: $15.00 2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2010:Global expansion begins

2008

2009

Hirohito becomes regent of Japan.

1923

Transatlantic broadcasting from England to America commences for the first time.

2010

Nov 20, 2014 close: $368.14 (up 4,786%)

1 2 2011

3

2012

2013

1947

The Big Four meet to discuss the German and European economy.

1964

Eleven nations give a total of $3 billion to rescue the British currency.

4

2014: European service grows to include 13 nations 35% US internet traffic caused

by Netflix

1921

Mar 2015: Service to launch in Australia and New Zealand

Netflix Share Price 400

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Federal Assembly of Czechoslovakia votes to partition the country into the Czech Republic and Slovakia, beginning January 1, 1993.

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FROM OUR ARCHIVES TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF CHILDREN’S RIGHTS CONVENTION OBSERVED

MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman yesterday observed the 10th anniversary of the convention on the rights of the child which was ratified by most countries of the world. The Sultanate acceded to the convention in 1996 under Royal Decree 54/96 (with some modifications in the wordings of Article 7, 9, 14, 20 and 21). Oman submitted its first report to the global committee on child rights in June 1999, it was prepared by a committee coordinated by the Ministry of Social Affairs, Labour and Vocational Training.

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Darya Sharova, right,pretends to ride in a three-dimensional chalk art boat created by Russian artist Philippenzo Madonnaroon on Monday, during the Key West Chalk Festival in Key West, Florida. Madonnaro was one of 36 artists who participated in the sidewalk art event, sponsored by the Key West Art in Public Places Board. — AFP/Handout/Carol Tedesco/Florida

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Blow for Obama as Hagel resigns after poll defeat A successor will be named in short order, but Secretary Hagel will remain as Defence Secretary until his replacement is confirmed by the United States Senate, said an Obama aide WASHINGTON: US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel resigned on Monday, the first major change to President Barack Obama’s Cabinet since his Democrats were routed in midterm elections three weeks ago.

Obama announced the resignation at a White House event with Hagel at his side. Hagel will remain in the job until a successor is in place.

Hagel was appointed less than two years ago as Obama pushed his signature programme of winding up wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, a process that is being upended this year with US reengagement in Iraq and greater military cooperation with Kabul.

Discussions with Obama The former Republican senator, who had struggled to improve his ties with Congress after a contentious 2013 confirmation hearing, submitted his resignation letter after lengthy discussions with Obama that began in October, officials said.

“A successor will be named in short order, but Secretary Hagel will remain as Defence Secretary until his replacement is confirmed by the United States Senate,” a

TIME TO GO: US President Barack Obama, centre, announces

the resignation of Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel, left, as VicePresident Joe Biden listens at the White House in Washington, on Monday. — Reuters

senior Obama administration official said.

Obama said at the White House event that Hagel had always been candid with his advice and had “always given it to me straight.”

Leaked memo Hagel raised questions about Obama’s strategy toward Syria in a two-page internal policy memo that leaked this fall. In it, he warned that Obama’s policy was in jeopardy due to its failure to clarify its intentions toward Syrian President Bashar Al Assad.

Obama has insisted that the United States can go after IS militants without addressing Assad, who the United States would like to leave power.

Officials said Obama wanted fresh leadership during the final two years of his administration.

“What I can tell you is there are no policy differences in the background of this decision,” a senior US defence official said. “The secretary is not resigning in protest and he’s not being ‘fired’,” the official said.

Top potential candidates to replace Hagel include Michele Flournoy, a former under secretary of defence, and Ashton

Carter, a former deputy secretary of defense, who were rumoured to be contenders for Hagel’s job before he was named.

Senator Jack Reed, Democrat of Rhode Island, is another possible contender.

Hagel, who was the only enlisted combat veteran to serve as defence secretary, ran into a wave of opposition when Obama, a Democrat, nominated him.

Opposed Iraq war Republicans objected because Hagel opposed the 2007 Iraq war ‘surge’ of troops, which eventually helped defeat Al Qaeda and other militants and opened the way for a US troop withdrawal.

Hagel, who became an outspoken critic of the administration of President George W. Bush, had also upset many in his party by endorsing Obama in his presidential race against Republican Senator John McCain in 2008.

Hagel was seen as poorly prepared and hesitant during his confirmation hearing, including refusing to answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ when McCain demanded he judge whether he was wrong to oppose the surge strategy. — Reuters

CONTROVERSY

Erdogan says women not equal to men, criticises feminists

Tayyip Erdogan

ISTANBUL: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Monday was decried after declaring that women are not equal to men and claiming feminists in Turkey reject the idea of motherhood.

The president said that biological differences meant women and men cannot serve the same functions.

His comments ignited a firestorm of controversy on Twitter and one well-known female TV news anchor even took the unu-

sual step of condemning the remarks during a bulletin.

Erdogan was speaking a summit in Istanbul on justice for women.

“Some people can understand this, while others can’t. You cannot explain this to feminists because they don’t accept the concept of motherhood.”

He went on to say that women and men cannot be treated equally “because it goes against the laws of nature.” — AFP

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

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Denmark tops Internet usage NEW YORK: Denmark has overtaken South Korea as the world’s top country for cellphone and Internet use, a study released on Monday said.

In third place was Sweden, followed by Iceland and Britain, emphasising European dominance in the connectivity stakes, according to the International Telecommunication Union, a leading

analyst for information and communication technologies, or ICTs. Hong Kong led Asia, in ninth place in the world rankings, and the United States came 14th. The Central African Republic was last, part of a long list of African countries bringing up the tail of the list.

The International Telecommunications Union’s ICT development index takes into account

Internet and mobile phone access and use, and the population’s competence with the technology.

3 billion people online “Over three billion people are now online and information and communication technology growth remains buoyant in just about every country worldwide,” the report said. — AFP

B

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

MARKE Muscat 7,051.70 - 87.27 - 1.22%

Dubai 4,625.76 - 4.37 - 0.09%

Abu Dhabi 4,965.07 + 1.14 + 0.02%

Saudi Arabia

9,435.73 - 79.74 - 0.85%

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Kuwait 7,047.27 + 52.11 + 0.74%

Bahrain 1,448.25 - 2.19 - 0.18%

Qatar 13690.02 - 64.87 - 0.47%

CRUDE OIL PRICE

CURRENCY RATES*

DRAFT RATES (OMR1)*

GOLD PRICES*

Type ............................Delivery...........Price Oman Crude............. (Spot) .........$77.33 Dubai Crude ............. (Spot) ........ $76.93 Murban Crude ........ (Spot) ......... $77.77 Arabian Light ......... (Spot) ........$76.08 Arabian Heavy ....... (Spot) ................N/A N.Sea Brent............... (Spot) .........$78.78 West Texas Int ....... (Spot) ......... $76.41

Forex rates vs OMR1* US Dollar ................................. 2.58 Euro ............................................2.09 Pound ...........................................1.66 Indian Rs .............................160.83 Pak Rs ....................................264.21 Bangla Taka.......................201.58

Indian Rs .................................. 160.35 Pakistan Rs .............................262.75 Sri Lanka Rs .......................... 339.00 Bangla Taka............................201.00 Phil Peso .................................... 116.20

Muscat 24ct per gm (OMR) .......15.35

* Rates are as of Nov. 24 Source: BankMuscat

Duqm refinery expected to be ready by 2019 The planned refinery coming up in Duqm will have a capacity of 230,000 barrels of crude oil per day ON SCHEDULE: The tender for civil work has been floated and will be awarded in the first quarter of 2015. — Supplied picture

ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI

elham@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: Construction work of a planned refinery in Duqm with a capacity of 230,000 barrels of crude oil per day is expected to be completed in 2019, according to a company official who is in charge of the project.

“Construction work will complete in fourth quarter of 2019,” Jacobus Nieuwenhuijze, project director at Duqm Refinery and Petrochemical Industries Company, told Times of Oman here

yesterday. He made the remarks on the sidelines of a ceremony held at Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM) during which an agreement was signed by Yahya Bin Said Bin Abdullah Al Jabri, chairman of the Special Economic Zone Authority of Duqm (Sezad), and Eng Essam Al Zadjali, Duqm Refinery’s chairman and the chief executive officer of Oman Oil Company (OOC).

The preliminary usufruct agreement will allow Duqm Refin-

ery to use the designated 900-hectare area to carry out field studies, preparatory and clearance works to build the grass root project.

The agreement commits both parties to reaching a final agreement in a period that does not exceed 12 months from the signing of the preliminary agreement.

Duqm Refinery’s project director said that the tender for civil work has been floated and is expected to be awarded in the first quarter of 2015. > B4

Muscat 22ct per gm (OMR) .......14.80 Dubai 24ct per gm (Dh) ............145.25 Dubai 22ct per gm (Dh) ............ 138.00

* Rates as of Nov. 24 Source: Oman UAE Exchange

* Rates as of Nov. 24 Source: Malabar Gold & Diamonds

SEND US YOUR VIEWS AND COMMENTS editor@timesofoman.com webeditor@timesofoman.com

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

MARKET Latest industrial tools to be showcased at MTEX Oman The third edition of the expo showcasing the latest trends in machinery, tools, equipment and hardware will be held in December 2014

GLOBAL FIRMS

Times News Service MUSCAT: MTEX Oman, a distinctive trade fair showcasing the latest trends in machinery, tools, equipment and hardware, will be held in December 2014, synchronising with the Sultanate’s booming industrialisation drive. This year’s trade show is the third edition.

Record investments announced by the Government of Oman and private sector towards industrial and infrastructure projects have

opened up a wide business possibilities of the national and international players in the machinery, tools, equipment and hardware divisions. It is during this positive environment that MTEX Oman will take place at Oman International Exhibition Centre from December 8 to 10.

Organised by Global Exhibitions & Conferences, MTEX Oman will be held under the patronage of Oman’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The exhibition is supported by Public

Global players from China, Germany, Japan, Turkey, the UK and the US will showcase their wide range of products

Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE), German Industry of Commerce, Indo-Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Asian Arab Chamber of Commerce, Ghorfa – German Arab Chamber of Commerce, Oman Society of Engineers and IEEE-

Oman Section.

Leading national and international players from China, Germany, Japan, Turkey, the UK and the US will showcase their wide range of exhibits at the event, which is an indication to the growing importance of the industrialisation happening in the Omani market.

Wide range of products MTEX Oman 2014 will lay a perfect platform for buyers and sellers involved in the industrial sectors. Amongst a wide range of industrial products, exhibits at the show will feature a whole gamut of metal cutting and forming machinery, wood working machinery, welding equipment, hydraulics and pneumatics, tools and accessories, industrial power tools, abrasives, measuring equipment, surface finishing products, industrial hardware, fasteners, workshop machinery, generators

and cleaning machinery.

“MTEX Oman, being the stand alone industrial exhibition giving thrust to the machinery and equipment segment, offers its visitors a wide range of products and services that will drive efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance project and service delivery,” said C. J. Paul, chief executive officer of Global Exhibitions & Conferences.

MTEX Oman will bring in visitors from the sectors such as metal working workshops, sheet metal fabrication workshops, food processing companies, manufacturing units, oil & gas, mining, construction, petrochemical and power generation.

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CRUDE PRICE DIP

Petrofac plunges after forecasting fall in 2015 profit LONDON: Petrofac, UK’s largest oil and gas engineering company, fell as much as 25 per cent in early London trading after announcing a weakening outlook for profit.

Net income for 2014 will be near the lower end of the $580- $600 million range forecast in previous guidance, the London-based company said yesterday in a statement.

Profit will be about $500 million next year, $45 million less than forecast, because of waning oil prices, project delays and a settlement at the Laggan-Tormore project in Scotland.

“On a small number of projects our execution has fallen short of the high standards we set for ourselves,” Petrofac chief executive officer Ayman Asfari said.

The shares plunged to as low as 898 pence and traded at 905.50 in London. The stock declined 2.5 per cent this year, while the key FTSE 100 index remained little changed.

Benchmark oil prices in New York have fallen. - Bloomberg News

EURO-AREA GROWTH

Italy, France, Germany bracing for EU draft budget judgments BRUSSELS: Italy, France and Germany will face off over how to rebuild euro-area growth when the European Commission passes judgment this week on their draft budgets.

Germany may come under renewed pressure to switch from savings to investment, while France and Italy will again be confronted with the gap between their economic strategies and the currency bloc’s rules on fiscal discipline. On both ends of the debate, nations are likely to resist change to their own budget plans while calling on their neighbours to do more.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that consolidating government budgets is the only way to “master the crisis permanently,” which limits the amount of available leeway. Italy counters that it needs room to limit the pain inflicted by the changes with the most long-term benefits.

As a result, the budget rules put nations under pressure to either

limp along under current policy or go to battle over how to ease the short-term impact on voters, said Guntram Wolff, director of the Bruegel research in Brussels.

“Someone in Germany would typically say if you don’t have pressure on the fiscal side, you’re never going to do the reforms,” Wolff said.“Italians would say, we have our back against the wall, we can’t pass any reforms because we can’t bail out the losers of those reforms.”

Five countries The Brussels-based commission has so far postponed holding countries’ feet to the fire on the euro-area budget rules, finding in October that no nation was at risk of breaking EU budget rules by a big enough margin to warrant immediate action. The move gave France and Italy more time to win approval for their draft spending plans, ahead of a November 30 deadline for final opinions.

France and Italy, the euro area’s second- and third-largest economies, were among five countries the commission in October asked for more information about 2015 spending plans. Along with Austria, Malta and Slovenia, the nations have offered plans for future spending cuts and other economic measures designed to keep penalties at bay.

Countries in the euro bloc are obliged to bring their deficits to within 3 per cent of gross domestic product and reduce debt to below 60 per cent. - Bloomberg News

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

B3

MARKET Iran expected to propose Opec to slash production Iran may propose a cut in output target by as much as 1 million barrels a day to shore up falling

MEASURES: Opec, supplier of about 40 per cent of the world’s

crude oil prices

oil, will meet on November 27 in the Austrian capital to assess its collective output amid a supply glut and a 27 per cent drop in prices this year. – File photo

DUBAI: Iran may propose that Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) cut its output target by as much as 1 million barrels a day to halt the slide in crude prices when the country’s oil minister consults with his Saudi counterpart before the group gathers this week.

Bijan Namdar Zanganeh and Saudi Arabia’s oil minister Ali Al Naimi will talk on the sidelines of the meeting in Vienna of the Opec, seeking to define a common view among its 12 members for supporting prices, Iran’s staterun Mehr News agency reported, without saying where it got the information. An official in Iran’s Oil Ministry didn’t immediately comment when contacted.

Opec, supplier of about 40 per cent of the world’s oil, will meet on November 27 in the Austrian

capital to assess its collective output amid a supply glut and a 27 per cent drop in prices this year. Half the analysts in a survey last week forecast that Opec would cut production to shore up prices, while the other half said they didn’t see it deviating from an official 30 million barrel-a-day production target.

Prompting speculation A decision by Opec to decrease output would be “supportive to the market,” Tom James, managing director of consultancy Navitas Resources, said. “I’m not sure it would be enough to really push up prices and to get them back into the $90s.”

The drop in Brent crude, with the global benchmark trading at less than $80 a barrel last week, has prompted speculation of an

Opec cut. Officials from oil-producing countries stepped up diplomatic visits before the group’s meeting, discussing how to react to the plunge in prices to a fouryear low. Brent futures were up 46 cents, or 0.6 per cent, at $80.82 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange in Singapore yesterday.

James said he sees the market stabilising and expects Opec to refrain from announcing an output reduction this week.

Saudi Arabia remains committed to seeking stable prices, Al Naimi said. - Bloomberg News

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ECONOMY

China set to cut interest rates again on fears of deflation BEIJING: China’s leadership and central bank are ready to cut interest rates again and also loosen lending restrictions, concerned that falling prices could trigger a surge in debt defaults, business failures and job losses, said sources involved in policy-making.

Friday’s surprise cut in rates, the first in more than two years, reflects a change of course by Beijing and the central bank, which had persisted with modest stimulus measures before finally deciding last week that a bold monetary policy step was required to stabilise the second-largest economy.

Economic growth has slowed to 7.3 per cent in the third quarter and policymakers feared it was on the verge of dipping below 7 per cent — a rate not seen since the global financial crisis.

Broad-based stimulus Producer prices, charged at the factory gate, have been falling for almost three years, piling pressure on manufacturers, and consumer inflation is also weak.

“Top leaders have changed their views,” said a senior economist at a government think-tank involved in internal policy discussions.

The economist, who declined to be named, said the People’s Bank of China had shifted its focus toward broad-based stimulus and were open to more rate cuts as well as a cut to the banking industry’s reserve requirement ratio (RRR), which restricts the amount of capital available to fund loans.

China cut the RRR for some banks this year but has not announced a banking-wide reduction in the ratio since May 2012.

“Further interest rate cuts should be in the pipeline as we have entered into a rate-cut cycle and RRR cuts are also likely,” he said. - Reuters

B4

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

MARKET

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OMAN STOCKS

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ........................................ 7,119.00 ............... 7,051.70 ....................7,051.70 ....................7,138.97................-87.27 .................. -1.22 Financial Index .....................................8,541.86 ...............8,483.63 ................... 8,483.63 ...................8,544.35................-60.72 ...................-0.71 Industrial Index .................................... 9,714.67 ...............9,678.50 ................... 9,678.50 ................... 9,714.62................-36.12 .................. -0.37 Services Index ....................................... 3,715.53 ...............3,689.51 ....................3,689.51 ................... 3,731.34................-41.83 ...................-1.12 MSM SHARIAH INDEX....................1,064.63 ................1,057.11 .....................1,057.11 ................... 1,069.23................ -12.12 ...................-1.13 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 21,482,226 ................13,157,020 ................. 1,642 ................15,135,196,043 .................. 7 ..................... 24 .................... 27 .........................58

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24 Omantel was the most active in terms of volume as well as turnover.

The top gainer of the day was Majan Glass, up by 1.79 per cent

MUSCAT: Weighed down by decline in telecom stocks, the MSM30 Index ended the day at 7,051.70 points, down by 1.22 per cent. The MSM Sharia index declined by 1.13 per cent to close at 1,057.11 points. Omantel was the most active in terms of volume as well as turnover. The top gainer of the day was Majan Glass, up by 1.79 per cent while Ooredoo was the only loser of the day, down by 4.84 per cent.

A total number of 1,642 trades were executed during the day’s trading session generating turnover of OMR13.1 million with more than 21.4 million shares changing hands. Out of 58 traded stocks, seven advanced, 24 declined and 27 remained unchanged. Omani investors remained net buyers for OMR4.35 million while GCC & Arab investors switched to net sellers for OMR3.49 million followed by foreign investors for OMR863,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index The financial Index closed at 8,483.63 points, down by 0.71 per cent. Global Finance & Investments, Gulf Investment Services and ONIC Holding increased by 1.67 per cent, 0.95 per cent and 0.52 per cent respectively. Al Sharqia Investments, Al Batinah Development, Ominvest, Al Anwar Holding and Al Madina Takaful decreased by 2.75 per cent, 2.50 per cent, 2.33 per cent, 2.15 per cent and 1.96 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index declined by 0.37 per cent to close at 9,678.50 points. Majan Glass and Areej Vegetables increased by 1.79 per cent and 0.18 per cent respectively. Al Hassan Engineering, Galfar

Engineering, Al Maha Ceramics, Gulf International Chemicals and Oman Cement decreased by 3.82 per cent, 3.41 per cent, 1.96 per cent, 1.80 per cent and 0.56 per cent respectively.

Services Sector Index declined strongly to close at 3,689.51 points, down by 1.12 per cent.

Majan College and Renaissance Services increased by 1.60 per cent and 0.34 per cent respectively. Ooredoo, Omantel, OIFC, National Gas and Al Batinah Power decreased by 4.84 per cent, 3.99 per cent, 2.26 per cent, 1.31 per cent and 0.54 per cent respectively.

Barclays’ Dubai plan Barclays hired two corporate bankers from Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) in Dubai as it expands in the region, people with knowledge of the matter said.

The UK’s second-largest bank by assets hired Sahibzada Masroor Ali and Joaquin Eliason, the two people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. Ali was most recently the head of network client coverage for the Middle East and Africa, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Barclays plans to increase the number of corporate bankers in the Gulf by more than 10 percent this year as economic growth improves, Rezwan Mirza, head of the business in the United Arab Emirates and Gulf countries, said in a May 26 interview in Dubai.

RBS is weighing the sale of its Middle East corporate loan book as it reviews its international business, people familiar with the plan said on November 5.

Security Name ....................................................Volume .....Turnover ... Trades ......... High.........Low ..........Close ......... Prev. .......... Diff. ............ Diff .............Last ..........Last ............Last ................Market Cap.........Par ........................................................................................................................................................................................ Pr. ............ Close ........... RO ............... % .................Pr ..............Bid ............ Offer ............................................value

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

GLOBAL FINANCIAL INVESTMENT ...................60,000 ................ 7,325.................5 ............0.124.......... 0.120 ............0.122 .............0.120 ............ 0.002 ............. 1.667...............0.123 ............ 0.122 ..............0.124 ..............24,400,000.000 ......0.100 MAJAN COLLEGE ............................................. 14,000 ................ 7,120.................3 ............0.510.......... 0.500 ............0.508 ............ 0.500............ 0.008 .............1.600 ..............0.510 ............0.500 ..............0.550 ...............15,240,000.000 ......0.100 GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES .......................933,850 ............199,213.............. 48 ............0.215..........0.208 ............ 0.213 .............0.211 ............ 0.002 .............0.948 ............. 0.208 ............0.209 ..............0.210 ............... 12,533,605.221 ......0.100 ONIC. HOLDING ...............................................330,058 ............128,718.............. 23 ............0.394 ......... 0.388 ............0.390 .............0.388............ 0.002 ............. 0.515.............. 0.394 ............ 0.388 ............. 0.392............... 67,635,067.500 ......0.100 RENAISSANCE SERVICES ..................................92,000 ............. 54,564.................6 ............0.594 ......... 0.592 ............0.594 .............0.592............ 0.002 .............0.338 ............. 0.592 ............0.580 ..............0.592 ............. 167,564,105.676 ......0.100 AHLI BANK ......................................................374,500 ..............83,514...............10 ............0.223 ......... 0.223 ............0.223 .............0.223............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.223 ............ 0.218 ............. 0.223.............288,893,691.092 ......0.100 AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ............................ 205,200 ............116,581.................7 ............0.570 ......... 0.568 ............0.568 .............0.568 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.568 ............ 0.530 ..............0.568 .............140,207,809.480 ......0.100 AL JAZEERA SERVICES .........................................1,000 ................... 396................. 1 ............0.396 ......... 0.396 ............ 0.410 .............0.410 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.396 ............ 0.396 ............. 0.404............... 25,093,751.930 ......0.100 AL JAZEERA STEEL PRODUCTS .............................3,249 ................ 1,488................. 1 ............0.458 ......... 0.458 ............0.458 .............0.458 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.458 ............ 0.458 ............. 0.460...............57,203,265.680 ......0.100 AL OMANIYA FINANCIAL SER. .............................75,493 ............. 24,913................. 1 ............0.330 ......... 0.330 ............0.330 .............0.330............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.330 ............0.000 ............. 0.000................75,793,979.910 ......0.100 BANK DHOFAR ..................................................20,000 ................ 7,160.................3 ............0.358 ......... 0.358 ............0.358 .............0.358 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.358 ............ 0.350 ..............0.358 .............480,880,712.612 ......0.100 DHOFAR CATTLE FEED ...................................406,053 ..............76,975...............12 ............ 0.195.......... 0.187 ............0.190 .............0.190 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ..............0.187 ............ 0.186 ..............0.195 ...............14,630,000.000 ......0.100 GULF INV. SER. PREF SHARES .............................. 56,972 .................9,116.................5 ............0.160.......... 0.160 ............0.160 .............0.160 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.160 ............ 0.155 ..............0.164 ...............14,622,525.280 ......0.100 NATIONAL ALUMINIUM PRODUCTS ............... 125,500 ............. 44,678.................3 ............0.356 ......... 0.356 ............0.356 .............0.356 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.356 ............0.322 ..............0.354 ................11,951,436.200 ......0.100 OMAN FLOUR MILLS ...............................................200 ....................118................. 1 ............0.590 ......... 0.590 ............0.604 ............ 0.604............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.590 ............0.544 ............. 0.590...............95,130,000.000 ......0.100 RAYSUT CEMENT ........................................... 135,690 ........... 287,663.............. 22 ............2.120 ......... 2.120 ............2.120 .............2.120 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 2.120 ............ 2.120 ..............2.125 ........... 424,000,000.000 ......0.100 SALALAH MILLS ................................................... 6,919 ............. 10,309................. 1 ............1.490.......... 1.490 ............ 1.490 .............1.490 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 1.490 ............ 1.490 ..............1.500 ............... 71,762,965.360 ......0.100 SOHAR POWER ....................................................5,007 ................ 1,873.................5 ............0.374 ......... 0.374 ............0.374 .............0.374 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.374 ............ 0.374 ............. 0.400............... 82,657,740.000 ......0.100 TAAGEER FINANCE ........................................100,222 ..............15,033.................3 ............0.150.......... 0.150 ............ 0.150 .............0.150 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.150 ............ 0.145 ..............0.163 .............. 38,038,500.000 ......0.100 UNITED FINANCE ............................................... 2,000 ...................280................. 1 ............0.140 ......... 0.140 ............ 0.139..............0.139 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.140 ............ 0.140 ............. 0.000............... 38,226,837.858 ......0.100 VOLTAMP ENERGY ...............................................1,912 ................... 784.................5 ............0.410.......... 0.410 ............0.438 .............0.438 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.410 ............ 0.410 ............. 0.430.............. 26,499,000.000 ......0.100 ALMAHA PETROLEUM PRODUCTS MAR. ...........10,230 ............. 24,857.................3 ............2.430 ......... 2.410 ............2.430 .............2.435 ........... -0.005 ...........-0.205 ............ 2.430 ............2.390 ............. 2.430.............167,670,000.000 ......0.100 OMAN CABLES INDUSTRY ..................................24,777 ..............59,515.................4 ............2.405 .........2.400 ............2.400 .............2.405........... -0.005 ...........-0.208 ............ 2.400 ............ 2.370 ............. 2.400............215,280,000.000 ......0.100 BANK SOHAR .................................................. 487,103 ............ 113,116.............. 32 ............0.235 ......... 0.231 ............0.232 .............0.233............-0.001 ...........-0.429 .............0.231 ............0.230 ..............0.231 ............265,408,000.000 ......0.100 OMAN CEMENT ............................................... 30,000 ............. 21,480.................3 ............ 0.716 ...........0.716 ............ 0.716..............0.720 ........... -0.004 ........... -0.556..............0.716 ............ 0.712 ..............0.720 ............236,904,860.360 ......0.100 NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN .............................452,424 ............171,016...............13 ............0.378 ......... 0.378 ............0.378 .............0.382........... -0.004 ........... -1.047............. 0.378 ............ 0.378 ............. 0.380.............460,716,795.000 ......0.100 AL MADINA INVESTMENT .................................25,146 ................1,964.................6 ............0.079 ......... 0.078 ............0.078 .............0.079 ............-0.001 ........... -1.266............. 0.078 ............ 0.075 ..............0.078 ................ 16,157,807.952 ......0.100 NATIONAL GAS ..................................................65,336 ............. 39,436.............. 23 ............ 0.616.......... 0.600 ............0.604 .............0.612 ........... -0.008 ........... -1.307............. 0.600 ............ 0.568 ............. 0.608................27,519,094.056 ......0.100 OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING ...............217,956 ..............37,700.............. 28 ............ 0.175.......... 0.172 ............ 0.173..............0.176 ........... -0.003 ........... -1.705 ..............0.173 ............ 0.173 ..............0.175 ...............21,084,375.000 ......0.100 BANK MUSCAT ............................................3,395,450 ....... 2,322,210.............151 ............0.696 ......... 0.680 ............0.684 .............0.696 ............-0.012 ........... -1.724 ............. 0.680 ............ 0.676 ............. 0.680......... 1,492,958,720.592 ......0.100 GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ..............203,565 ............. 33,397...............19 ............ 0.165.......... 0.163 ............ 0.164 .............0.167 ........... -0.003 ........... -1.796 ............. 0.164 ............ 0.163 ..............0.167 .................3,444,000.000 ......0.100 AL ANWAR HOLDING ...................................1,956,336 ........... 533,671............ 180 ............0.279 ......... 0.268 ............0.273 .............0.279........... -0.006 ........... -2.151 ............. 0.268 ............ 0.267 ............. 0.268...............35,626,500.000 ......0.100 OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE ..............246,160 .............. 53,161...............17 ............0.218.......... 0.215 ............ 0.216 .............0.221 ........... -0.005 ...........-2.262 ............ 0.216 ............ 0.215 ..............0.216 ..............43,200,000.000 ......0.100 OMINVEST ........................................................10,088 ................4,237.................2 ............0.420 ......... 0.420 ............0.420 .............0.430............-0.010 ...........-2.326 ............ 0.420 ............0.422 ............. 0.430............ 141,432,060.000 ......0.100 AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING .............266,090 .............. 47,011.............. 30 ............0.180.......... 0.176 ............ 0.177..............0.182 ........... -0.005 ........... -2.747..............0.177 ............ 0.177 ..............0.181 ...............15,314,040.000 ......0.100 GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. ................... 144,073 ............. 24,487.............. 24 ............ 0.173.......... 0.167 ............ 0.170 .............0.176 ........... -0.006 ...........-3.409 .............0.167 ............ 0.167 ..............0.170 ............... 44,815,189.370 ......0.100 OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION .................. 3,418,189 ........5,754,326............ 341 ............ 1.730.......... 1.665 ............ 1.685..............1.755 ........... -0.070 ........... -3.989..............1.665 ............ 1.665 ..............1.680 .........1,263,750,000.000 ......0.100 OOREDOO ....................................................3,087,349 ........2,185,327............392 ............0.720 ......... 0.696 ............0.708 .............0.744 ........... -0.036 ...........-4.839 ............ 0.696 ............ 0.696 ..............0.700 ............ 460,868,514.840 ......0.100 SUM: ............................................................................... 16,990,097 ..... 12,504,730.........1,434 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ...................................................................................TRADED SEC. ......................38.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

MAJAN GLASS ......................................................6,000 .................1,710................. 1 ............0.285 ......... 0.285 ............0.285 ............ 0.280............ 0.005 ............. 1.786.............. 0.285 ............0.260 ..............0.275 ............... 11,976,640.500 ......0.100 AREEJ VEGETABLE OILS AND DERIV ........................ 546 ................3,008.................2 ............5.600 ......... 5.500 ............ 5.510..............5.500............ 0.010 .............0.182 ............. 5.600 ............ 5.600 ............. 0.000.............. 25,346,000.000 ......1.000 ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK ............................................... 463 ..................... 44................. 1 ............0.096 ......... 0.096 ............0.096 .............0.096............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.096 ............ 0.096 ..............0.097 ..............96,000,000.000 ......0.100 AL SUWADI POWER .........................................905,640 ...........168,300.............. 34 ............0.187.......... 0.185 ............ 0.186 .............0.186 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ..............0.185 ............ 0.183 ..............0.185 .............132,879,579.240 ......0.100 BANK NIZWA .................................................. 778,071 ............. 68,449.............. 23 ............0.090 ......... 0.087 ............0.088 .............0.088............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.090 ............ 0.087 ............. 0.090............132,000,000.000 ......0.100 CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IND. ........................ 1,680 ......................84.................2 ............0.050 ......... 0.050 ............0.050 .............0.050............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.050 ............ 0.047 ............. 0.050.................4,250,000.000 ......0.100 MUSCAT GASES ...................................................1,000 ...................824................. 1 ............0.824 ......... 0.824 ............0.828 .............0.828............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.824 ............0.824 ............. 0.828..............24,840,000.000 ......0.100 OMAN EDU. & TRIN. INV. HOLDING ..........................1,000 ................... 150................. 1 ............0.150.......... 0.150 ............0.140 .............0.140 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.150 ............ 0.141...............0.150 .................9,800,000.000 ......0.100 OMAN FISHERIES ...........................................281,500 ............. 20,538...............16 ............0.073 ......... 0.072 ............0.073 .............0.073 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.073 ............ 0.072 ..............0.073 ................. 9,125,000.000 ......0.100 OMAN NATIONAL ENGINE. INVT. ........................34,187 ..............10,530.................8 ............0.308 ......... 0.308 ............0.308 ............ 0.308............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.308 ............0.308 ..............0.338 ..............24,640,000.000 ......0.100 SEMBCORP SALALAH .............................................400 ...................902................. 1 ............2.255 ......... 2.255 ............2.285 .............2.285............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 2.255 ............2.260 ............. 2.280..............218,119,690.575 ......1.000 SHARQIYAH DESALINATION ...................................300 ................ 1,538.................3 ............ 5.125.......... 5.125 ............ 5.125..............5.125 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ..............5.125 ............4.900 ............. 5.200............... 50,123,607.000 ......1.000 TAKAFUL OMAN INSURANCE .............................. 5,770 ................... 554................. 1 ............0.096 ......... 0.096 ............0.096 .............0.096............ 0.000 .............0.000 ............. 0.096 ............ 0.096 ..............0.100 .................9,600,000.000 ......0.100 AL BATINAH POWER .......................................665,407 ........... 122,895.............. 32 ............ 0.185.......... 0.182 ............ 0.185..............0.186 ............-0.001 ........... -0.538............. 0.182 ............ 0.182 ..............0.184 .............124,854,174.550 ......0.100 AL MADINA TAKAFUL ....................................... 50,000 ................ 5,015.................4 ............ 0.101.......... 0.098 ............0.100 .............0.102 ........... -0.002 ........... -1.961 ..............0.101 ............ 0.100 ..............0.102 ...............17,500,000.000 ......0.100 ALMAHA CERAMICS ....................................... 114,946 .............. 69,161.............. 55 ............0.608 ......... 0.596 ............0.600 .............0.612 ............-0.012 ........... -1.961 ............. 0.600 ............0.600 ............. 0.604..............30,000,000.000 ......0.100 AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ...........................31,584 ............... 4,942.................6 ............ 0.158.......... 0.156 ............ 0.156..............0.160 ........... -0.004 ...........-2.500 .............0.158 ............ 0.157 ..............0.158 .................4,680,000.000 ......0.100 AL HASSAN ENGINEERING ................................40,150 ................5,059.................8 ............0.128.......... 0.125 ............ 0.126 .............0.131 ........... -0.005 ........... -3.817 ............. 0.126 ............ 0.126 ..............0.130 .................9,476,208.000 ......0.100 SUM: ..................................................................................2,918,644 ...........483,703............ 199 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ...................................................................................TRADED SEC. ......................18.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

BONDS MARKET ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

BANK MUSCAT CONV. BONDS 4.5 ....................... 781,485 ..............83,619.................2 ............0.107.......... 0.107 ............ 0.107 .............0.109 ........... -0.002 ........... -1.835 ............. 0.107 ............ 0.107 ............. 0.000...............32,394,154.877 ......0.100 BANK MUSCAT C C B 4.5 .....................................792,000 ............. 84,969.................7 ............ 0.115 .......... 0.107 ............ 0.107 .............0.112 ........... -0.005 ...........-4.464 .............0.115 ............ 0.107 ..............0.115 ...............34,201,766.225 ......0.100 SUM: .................................................................................. 1,573,485 ........... 168,588.................9 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ...................................................................................TRADED SEC. ........................2.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

— United Securities/ Bloomberg News

INDIAN MARKETS

DUQM REFINERY

DRIVE SLOWER LIVE LONGER

B1 Takatuf Oman, Sezad sign < FROM

pact for training local youths

Nieuwenhuijze added that the products of the refinery, which is a ‘major milestone,’ will be used domestically and also exported to markets such as Asia and Europe.

Duqm Refinery was established in 2012 as a joint venture between OOC and the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC), which is owned by the government of Abu Dhabi.

Lee Chee Khian, chief executive officer of Sezad, said that the civil work will start probably in April or May next year, after which the EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) work will commence.

Job creation He said that the project will create many job opportunities and will help support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as their services will be required in various fields.

“At the peak of the construction, we expect 25,000 to 30,000 workers,” said Lee, adding that

around 800 to 1,000 jobs will be created after the completion of the project.

In addition, Al Jabri highlighted the importance of the petrochemical industry in economic diversification and revenue generation.

Takatuf Oman During the ceremony, Sezad also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Takatuf Oman, the human capital arm of OOC, to establish a programme for the development of human resources in Duqm.

The Special Economic Zone Authority in Duqm (Sezad) and Takatuf Oman LLC (Takatuf ), the Human Capital arm of Oman Oil Company (OOC), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enter into a partnership to develop and manage a general programme that aims to qualify and strengthen the human capacity of residents in AlWusta Governorate.

The MoU was signed by Al Jabri, and Eng. Isam bin Saud Al-Zadjali, the CEO of Oman Oil Company and Chairman of (Takatuf ) Oman.

Training programmes The MoU stipulates the cooperation between Sezad and Takatuf Oman to develop training programmes to qualify the citizens of Al-Wusta governorate and to enhance their abilities to fill available jobs in Duqm.

These training programmes will focus on the basic skills of human resources in work environment in general.

According to the MoU, the cooperation between Sezad and Takatuf will be to determine the required training programmes and to design the training plan to ensure the quality of the outcome.

Another MoU was also signed between Sezad and Bank Muscat for facilitating the financing of projects in Duqm.

Sensex rises; rupee drops MUMBAI: Led by smart gains in Infosys, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and TCS, both the key indices, Sensex and Nifty, hit their fresh record intra-day highs of 28,541.96 and 8,534.65 before logging their new closing peaks of 28,499.54 and 8,530.15, up by 165 points and 53 points respectively on the back of firm global trends amid capital inflows, extending gains for the third straight trading session.

Rupee falls Breaking two session of rise, the rupee reacted downwards by 18 paise to close at 61.94 against the Greenback on fresh dollar demand from importers, despite firm local equities and capital inflows. The dollar demand from importers, mainly oil refiners, to meet their month-end requirements was so strong that weak dollar overseas also could not able to stem the rupee fall.

At the Forex market, the domestic unit commenced better at 61.7450 a dollar from last weekend’s close of 61.76 and rose to a high of 61.65. - PTI

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

B5

ROUND-UP Lulu marks National Day with grand celebrations Decked up with balloons, craftworks and ribbons depicting the tricolours of the flag, the stores donned a festive look and were abuzz with loads of cultural activities

MUSCAT: Lulu Hypermarkets, Oman’s largest retail chain, celebrated the Sultanate’s 44th National Day with tremendous pride and patriotism. The group organised an array of cultural activities and promotions to coincide with the glorious event, ultimately capturing the true spirit of the most celebratory day of the country, says a press release.

There were celebrations in all the outlets across the Sultanate.

Decked up with balloons, craftworks and ribbons depicting the

tricolours of the flag, the stores donned a festive look and were abuzz with loads of cultural activities. There was a grand display of loyalty, affection and joy as each outlet marked the special day in unique ways, paying tribute to the nation and its great leader His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

“All through the past years the country has stood by us and helped us achieve steady advancement and confidence in the path for more prosperity, unprecedented development and success in all spheres of life. On this auspicious day, we are happy to express our gratitude and honour to His Maj-

C O R P O R AT E E V E N T

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

OER CEO Golf on Dec. 11 MUSCAT: The cream of Oman’s corporate heads, including business leaders and top managers, will come to network over a game of golf on the greens of Muscat Hills on Thursday, December 11.

The 10th edition of OER CEO Golf, Oman’s premium corporate networking event, will be a perfect weekend rendezvous for more than 250 of Oman’s top corporate leaders to rub shoulders with one another in an eclectic atmosphere of high powered golfing, says a press release.

The itinerary of the event includes a day of no-holds barred intense golfing (Texas Scramble format), amidst the cool, verdant and undulating expanses of Muscat Hills, followed by a gala prize distribution ceremony and dinner in the evening which is laced with high-voltage entertainment.

OER CEO Golf 2014 is organised by Oman Economic Review, Oman’s premium business magazine, and its publisher United Media Services. Oman Arab Bank and Ominvest are the presenters of the

esty and the people of this noble country for their love and kindness in making us what we are today” said Ananth A. V., regional director of Lulu Hypermarkets, Oman.

All the Lulu branches in Oman organised a gamut of exciting activities, offering a splendid view of the traditions and culture of Oman. The festivities started off with the cake-cutting ceremony by Hasan Saeed Al Mandaari in Ibri.

A traditional art and craft exhibition was inaugurated by Hamad Al Garibi, Wakeel, Baladiya Ministry along with the Wali and the Municipal Director of Ibri while kids in eye-catching traditional attire

event while Rolex is the official time keeper. Oman United Agencies is the support partner and Aggreko is the energy partner. Times of Oman and Al Shabiba are the media partners of the event while Oman Printers & Stationers is the print partner.

“OER CEO Golf 2014 offers revitalisation for Oman’s corporate heavy weights, giving them an opportunity to network and compete on the greens. There are few events of this nature that can boast of such variety and all-round entertainment,” said Alpana Roy, executive vice president of United Media Services “Since its inception in 2005, OER CEO Golf has scaled new heights and is recognised as one of the biggest corporate networking events in the region. The event has evolved in line with the unprecedented changes in Oman’s golfing landscape over the last few years.

When OER started its CEO Golf nine years back, golf was a sport that was played on the browns by a handful of aficionados,” she added.

Tradeshow Masterclass draws positive response MUSCAT: Organised by Oman International Trade and Exhibitions (OITE), the ‘Transforming Your Tradeshows Masterclass’, held recently at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Muscat from 9am to 4pm, generated keen interest among the corporate executives in Oman.

John Blaskey, founder & MD of the Exhibiting Agency Ltd, UK enlightened more than 75 delegates from over 50 companies from Oman on the best strategies for reducing costs, raising profiles and measuring results at the event, says a press release.

Tarek Ali, GM, Exhibitions, OITE commented “We are pleased to present this internationally renowned programme, enabling our customers to maximise their benefits from our exhibitions and learn new methods.”

showcased their skills in dance, drama and music.

As part of the celebrations, customers got a chance to try out henna and face painting free of cost.

Omani national flags, shawls with national flags and badges were distributed to everyone at the event.

The traditional Omani cultural dance (Aiyaala) performers drew appreciation from the audience and a special quiz program was also conducted to boost the knowledge of the tiny tots.

Lulu Khasab celebrated the event with a grand cake-cutting ceremony and a string of activities. The Wali of Khasab, Assistant Wali, police officials and other ministry officials attended the occasion. Similar cake cutting ceremony was organised at Lulu Barka where the chief guest was Ahammed bin Salah bin Ali Zadjali, PACP Director.

Lulu Buraimi also witnessed lively celebrations with children from private schools performing a variety of activities on stage to entertain the audience. Lulu, the one-stop destination for all shopping needs, has risen to become one of the most popular brands in the country and operates over 12 stores in Oman. The group is renowned for providing diverse high-quality product range that offers the best possible value for money.

JOYOUS OCCASION

Unique Children’s Day festivities at Al Injaz School

MUSCAT: Al Injaz Private School celebrated Children’s Day recently in a special way on its premises.

Amararam Gujar IFS, 2nd Secretary Indian Embassy, was the guest of honour. The prize giving ceremony was a joyous event for the students as well as the parents, says a press release.

The programme showcased the journey of a family around the world, when their luck favoured by winning a lottery. Their musical sojourn started from the

Land of Fairies to a breathtaking experience in the United States, the Hawaiian Islands, Spain, the continent of Africa, Korea and India and finally brought them back to the peaceful, serene beauty of Oman.

The agility of the young dancers was portrayed through their enthralling performance. The audience was mesmerised by these young performers, making them look forward to more such stellar performances.

D E V E L O P I N G O M A N I TA L E N T

KR concludes another successful summer internship programme MUSCAT: The Khimji Ramdas Group recently concluded its Riyada summer internship campaign in collaboration with the Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development. This year KR hosted four students for a one-month training programme. The candidates elected for the course were Mohamed Said Al Brashdi, Qahtan Ali Al Atabi, Abdullah Hamood Al Mahrooqi and Maryam Qasim Al Suliemi, says a press release.

Commenting on the conglomerate’s initiatives Pankaj Khimji, Director, Khimji Ramdas said: “As a socially responsible corporate citizen, the KR Group is always engaging in efforts to identify, support and develop Omani talent. It is a mission that we undertake with the utmost dedication and commitment because we share the country’s goals to strengthen the efficiencies of its national workforce.”

LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME

The programme, he added, was born out of a need to supplement the learning and education of Omani youth with relevant training that grooms them for the workplace. It helps kick-start their careers by focussing on their professional pursuits while simultaneously refining their entrepreneurial skills.

Commenting on his experience, Qahtan Ali Al Atabi, who joined the Communications Department for his training, said:

“I found my training at KR to be really useful and relevant to the career that I plan to pursue. It was an honour to be trained by such experienced staff; the KR employees were friendly and helpful at all times. They were always willing to guide us and sort out any clarifications during the training.”

“The Khimji Ramdas Group has always partnered with Ithraa in its drives to give Omani youth a firm footing in entrepreneurship and the job market. Our programmes with Ithraa have always been successful, thanks, in large part, to HH Sayyid Faisal bin Turki Al Said, director general of Marketing & Media. His guidance and excellent stewardship of the programme are the reasons why we have dedicated candidates like Qahtan Ali Al Atabi, who participated in our communications course,” said Rajive Ahuja, head of Corporate Communications, Khimji Ramdas.

RARE OPPORTUNITY

TSC equips top executives with ILM diploma Prodigious ISM drummer meets mentor Gino Banks

MUSCAT: Driven by its commitment to constantly develop its people, The Sultan Centre (TSC) has recently entered into a partnership with the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) and Leadership Consultants to develop and deliver a unique training programme for its management team around the region.

Designed to nurture talented future executives, the program aims to providing the candidates the skills and knowledge needed to work in the modern retail environment at senior levels, says a press release.

Oman management team members are among the first batch of candidates to participate in this programme along with other countries’ TSC management.

This ILM TSC Strategic Leadership programme is unique as it blends together work based projects with traditional theory, using both taught seminars and e-learning, personal coaching and workplace mentoring.

Dr Antoine Eid, managing director of Leadership Consultants, a Lebanon-based Consultancy who is supporting the delivery of the ILM Programme in TSC, said: “Without a doubt, this is an exciting programme to be involved in, it’s an exceptional approach to leadership development that is being delivered for the first in the Middle East; TSC has invested heavily and I applaud their efforts in continuously developing their human resources.

"I am really excited for the par-

ticipants in the programme.”

The programme will extend over a period of 15 months throughout which the candidates will attend different sessions including Taught Seminars, e-tutorial sessions, personal coaching and workplace assessments. TSC has worked closely with ILM to ensure that the Level 7 Diploma offered in this partnership presents the candidates a unique qualification allowing them Level 7 Masters credits for an MBA degree in the future.

“People Development is at the core of our Human Resources strategy for the next three years,” said Antoinette Sullivan, HR director at TSC. “TSC is highly committed to investing in the development of its workforce out of its deep belief

that they are the cornerstone of its success and prosperity; and ILM is one very important example of the level of partners we are looking for. Our partnership with ILM is a fundamental part of our People Strategy to develop, from within the organisation, Future Talent requirements at all levels and across all Business units. It is our policy to retain, motivate and reward the best and brightest performers.”

TSC is planning further programmes with the ILM throughout the next year to benefit all Business Units; the group is planning to become an ILM Accredited Centre by early 2016. All other development programmes for graduates, retail and general management will also become ILM approved and accredited courses.

MUSCAT: It was yet another momentous occasion for Santrupth G R Vedanti when he got the rare opportunity to have a tryst with his mentor, Gino Banks, in Muscat.

Gino, the drumming sensation and son of the legendary Grammy Award nominated film-composer, jazz pianist and record producer Louis Banks, was in town to perform at a function organised by the Indian Social Club, says a press release.

Gino started playing drums at the age of 8 and took his passion seriously at 15. He toured Australia and China with his fathers’ indo-jazz fusion band Sangam, playing percussion when he was just nine years old. Gino is a versatile player and these traits led him to perform and record with artists and bands of all types of genres. He has also had the honour and privilege of playing a few tracks on the Miles From India album produced by Bob Belden, nominated for a 2009 Grammy in the Contemporary Jazz category with Times Square Records, NYC; a fusion of Great Indian Classical Musicians and Miles Davis Alumni Musicians.

Santrupth also started drumming at a tender age of 3 when his parents identified the drumming instincts in him and till now he has given a number of performances at various stages.

Recently he also had a very rare

opportunity to play with the trio from the world of drumming, Gino Banks, Dilip Doshi and Arunkumar in Bangalore. He even received the Grade 6 Trinity Guild Hall of London certificate from these talented musicians at the same function.

The warmth and joy experienced by Santrupth while playing for a mentally challenged group of children at an institution in India, prompted this class VIII student at Indian School Muscat, who is also a Grade 8 achiever in drums at Trinity College of Music London, to perform towards creating an awareness on cancer. He is even ready to travel the world to pass this message to all the music lovers through his renditions.

Santrupth was delighted to meet his idol Gino Banks, who appreciated the efforts put forth by him to perform for cancer awareness and blessed him with all success in this venture.

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

ROUND-UP D E D I C AT I O N T O E X PAT S

Big event to launch musical CD today

MUSCAT: Thankabala Creations, a non-profit organisation committed to uplift the skills of budding musicians, is launching a CD ‘Pravasanilavu’ dedicated to the expatriates irrespective of caste, creed or religion. It depicts the emotional memories of expatriates and the powerful bond with their homeland, says a press release.

Inauguration of the CD will be done in collaboration with Melody Events in the presence of many prominent personalities including the famous musician

M. G. Sreekumar and the famous music director A. K. Heman who were associated with the making of the same. They will deliver a melodious performance for the inaugural ceremony today from 7.30pm to 11pm at Le Grand Hall of Al Falaj Hotel.

Chairman Indian Social Club Dr. Satheesh Nambiar, Wilson George, Chairman, Indian Schools Board of Directors, and Dr Sreedevi P. Thashnath, Principal, Indian School Darsait, will be the guests of honour.

Pajero desert adventure to start on December 12 All Mitsubishi Pajero owners in the Sultanate are invited to register for the upcoming trips at the Mitsubishi Showroom in Azaiba

MUSCAT: General Automotive Company, the official distributors for Mitsubishi in Oman, will once again be holding their annual desert adventure for Pajero owners and enthusiasts between December 12 and 27, giving them a taste of a true desert adventure in the Mitsubishi Pajero — the vehicle best suited to handle the challenge.

The Team Pajero Desert Adventure will be split into three separate groups over three weekends. All Mitsubishi Pajero owners in the Sultanate are invited to register for the upcoming trips at the Mitsubishi Showroom in Azaiba, says a press release.

Commenting on the Desert Adventure, Rajesh Sharma, the National Marketing Manager of General Automotive Company, said: “The Pajero is an extremely capable vehicle that proves itself time and time again in the most challenging and harsh conditions the world over. These events are the perfect opportunity for owners, their friends and family to test the legendary capabilities of the Pajero in a safe and controlled environment.”

All three Team Pajero Adventure events will follow a predefined course — participants first gather at the main Mitsubishi

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showroom at Azaiba, and once underway, the convoy moves to Wahiba Sands before fully testing their off-road capabilities at the Al Raha Camp in Bidiyah.

These annual series of Team Pajero’ events provides a great opportunity to give Pajero owners a real-world driving experience in challenging off-road conditions in a safe and secure environment. The Team Pajero Adventure provides owners with a chance to drive over the dunes and find out just how capable the powerful SUV is in tackling the most demanding desert terrain and conditions.

Hosted at the Al Raha Camp, the convoy of Pajero vehicles are escorted by Marshalls and provided with a specialised desert

driving training. The drivers are then taken on a dune bashing session, after which the group is taken atop a dune to witness the stunning sunset. Once back at the camp a large number of activities and entertainment will be prepared for the families to enjoy.

“The Team Pajero Adventure has welcomed a growing number of Pajero owners with every passing year and with an ever increasing number applicants, slots are limited. We suggest any Pajero owner wishing to take part in the event to register with us at the earliest,” added Rajesh.

In its latest iteration, the 2015 Mitsubishi Pajero offers a modern look with a revised front grille and an aggressively shaped bumper with integrated LED daytime running lamps. The legendary vehicle is packed with features that make it a pleasure to drive both on the road and off. From the power of its 3.5 or 3.8 litre MIVEC engine through to a comprehensive suite

of safety features, the Pajero was designed from the ground-up to cope with any kind of driving condition. Whether highway cruising, urban driving or more challenging off-road adventures in the wadis and dunes of the Sultanate, the Pajero has proved its mettle time and again.

The roomy interior of the Pajero accommodates seven people and is equipped with a manual dual AC, CD player with 4 speakers, overhead console with sunglass storage, map lamp and trip computer with an information centre. Also available, is Mitsubishi’s multi communication system (MMCS) with voice command via steering wheel controls, an 850-watt Rockford acoustic design 12-speaker premium audio system and electro-chromatic rear-view mirror. As a result of its multifaceted characteristics the Pajero is extremely popular with families, businesses and individuals across the Sultanate.

SPECIAL OCCASION

OHI Group celebrates National Day MUSCAT: OHI Group, one of the leading business houses in the Sultanate, celebrated the 44th National Day across all its branch offices in Oman, says a press release.

The event was marked by a cake cutting ceremony at the company’s headquarters wherein Maqbool bin Hameed Al Saleh, Chairman of the OHI Group, cut the cake to commence the celebrations. It was a moment of joy for all the company’s staff who had decorated the entire office building in the colours of the national flag along with large pictures of His Majesty.

“November 18 is a day to reflect upon the achievements of our great nation under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. We have had the good fortune to see and experience the

blessed Renaissance first hand as we grew along with Oman. Therefore, it is indeed a moment of great pride to witness what Oman is today from where it was before.

I personally and also on behalf of my staff would like to wish His Majesty great health and may the Almighty bless and protect him,” said the chairman.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

B7

ROUND-UP TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY

First ACL ACDA certification exam in Oman on December 17 MUSCAT: ACL Services, the leading global provider of business assurance analytics to auditors, compliance professionals, and finance executives, has announced for the first time in Oman, ACL ACDA examination on Dec. 17 in Muscat.

The ACL Certification Programme sets the industry benchmark for technical proficiency and professional expertise in using ACL software. ACL Certification evaluates and recognises your ability to integrate ACL technology into financial analyses and business processes, assuring senior management of your abilities to maximise the full potential of your organisation’s ACL investment, says a press release.

“In Oman, the ACL clientele includes all major banks, government departments, private and public sector companies,” said Naveen Kotheri, the product manager.

Bank Muscat receives Best Asset Manager Award 2014 Bank Muscat Asset Management division offers a wide range of investment solutions and continues to expand its activities in equities, fixed income, real estate and alternate investments

MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the flagship financial services provider in the Sultanate, has won the Asset Manager of the Year – Oman 2014 award by Global Investor. The awards in recognition of excellence in banking across the Middle East region were presented at a ceremony in Dubai attended by senior bankers.

Abdullah Al Hinai, DGM – Investment Banking & FIG, said: “With $1.5 billion assets under management (AUM), Bank Muscat Asset Management is the biggest wealth manager in Oman as well as a leading player in the region. The dominant position endorses the performance of various funds under the mandate of Bank Muscat Asset Management and also the proven ability of the fund managers in challenging situations.

“Time and again, the performance of Bank Muscat Asset

Management has been lauded by the global banking community and we are delighted to receive yet another endorsement from Global Investor reflecting the consistency of performance of the funds and the innovative strategies which have cemented its reputation in a tough market.”

Bank Muscat Asset Management division offers a wide range

UNIQUE SCHEME

Zeinah launches health, beauty finance for women MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the flagship financial services provider in the Sultanate, has launched a unique health and beauty finance scheme as part of continuing efforts to promote specialised banking services for women.

The Zeinah health and beauty finance is an exclusive facility designed for modern health and beauty conscious women.

The short-term finance for ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Ex-ISM student wins award at UK university MUSCAT: Rajeev Raviraj Hegde, an ex-student of Indian School Muscat, has been awarded the Aerospace Departmental prize by the Faculty of Engineering for demonstrating academic excellence while studying at the university in Sheffield, UK. He received his certificate of merit and cash award on November 21, says a press release.

Rajeev secured bachelors degree with 1.1 honours in Aerospace Engineering. His thesis on microstructure and hardening properties of ultra high strength steel was presented at the Materials and Engineering Research Symposium 2014 in Sheffield, UK. “I would like to sincerely thank the university for recognising my efforts by bestowing upon me this accolade. Moments like these motivate me to work even harder to achieve my goals. I would also like to thank my family for their continuous support and encouragement,” said Rajeev.

Zeinah customers is available for 1 to 3 years for amounts ranging between OMR1,000 and OMR25,000 with interest rate as low as 3.5 per cent. Zeinah customers with a minimum monthly salary of OMR500 are eligible for this facility.

The health and beauty finance is designed specially for Zeinah customers, who can use it for joining a health and fitness club, skin

& dental care or a plastic surgery.

They can also avail special offers and discounts from leading health & beauty centres.

“As the nation’s flagship bank, Bank Muscat firmly believes that the development of Oman significantly hinges on the role played by women, alongside male counterparts. With women comprising a major customer segment, Bank Muscat offers unique products

and services targeted at them. Offering banking excellence, Bank Muscat enriches women’s life at different levels. The Zeinah suite of products and services is based on the premise that women prefer to use special banking services that preserve their privacy. Oman is witnessing the increasing role of women in workplace and education,” said Amjad Hassan Al Lawati, head of Products and Services.

of investment solutions and continues to expand its activities in equities, fixed income, real estate, and alternate investments.

Two Bank Muscat mutual funds, Oryx Fund and Muscat Fund, outperformed their benchmark indices in the first nine months of 2014. Oryx Fund, which is focussed on regional markets, continued its strong performance

with a return of 42.3 per cent, against the 20.1 per cent gain of its regional benchmark index. Oryx Fund also maintained its position as one of the best performing MENA-focused funds in the region, achieving this on account of better stock selection. The fund’s net profit rose to OMR2.57 million during the first nine months this year, compared with OMR1.83 million in the same period of 2013.

The fund follows a bottom-up stock selection approach to capture opportunities and maintain outperformance.

Bank Muscat Oryx Fund is a leading investment vehicle focused on securities listed on the GCC markets. Oryx Fund recently widened the objective of the fund to invest in companies listed in the Mena Region. The fund expects to generate better returns for investors from the decision to invest in Mena markets.

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

ROUND-UP

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New 2015 Sunny comes with exclusive features Customers purchasing the 2015 Sunny can now avail the exciting November Bonanza offer including cash

MUSCAT: The re-engineered 2015 Nissan Sunny from the house of Suhail Bahwan Automobiles comes with major refinements in interior and exterior styling coupled with key additions in customer-friendly technology solutions. This complete makeover model breaks new ground for entry-level compact sedans, says a press release.

Customers purchasing the 2015 Sunny can now avail the exciting November Bonanza offer that comes with benefits like free reg-

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istration, easy finance options, periodic maintenance service for two years/ 35K (whichever comes first), extended warranty amount and a cashback of OMR400.

NissanConnect uses hands-free technology, smartphone, and the

Nissan’s display screen to help customers stay in touch with the outside world from inside their vehicle. It’s loaded with features and compatibility with a growing list of apps that allows customers play music, keep tabs on social network, and navigate any city like a local.

Once logged in, customers have to connect to Nissan through Bluetooth or the USB port. The quick start guide helps to select from a list of supported apps, and NissanConnect automatically instals them.

‘BAHAR BONANZA’

The 2015 Sunny boasts a bold new front and rear treatment anchored by larger headlights, a more substantial looking fascia and standard chrome plating on the grille – all of which strengthen the new Sunny. Other exterior design elements include a fixed roof antenna, available blacked-out Bpillars, chrome door handles and front fog lights. Smart aerodynamic engineering helps create a low coefficient of drag in the segment which aids in the Sunny’s impressive real-world fuel economy. An exclusive 15-inch V-spoke aluminium-alloy wheel design is available with mid variants and above.

Roomy, refined interior Nissan Sunny offers five-passenger practicality with a high degree of comfort and refinement. Designed to appeal young families looking for a medium sized sedan that combines upscale design with space, quality and value-added features, all New Sunny delivers ease of handling in city driving conditions apart from superior fuel economy.

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N AT I O N A L D AY

ISM celebration pays tribute to HM

MUSCAT: Indian School Muscat, the Middle Section, celebrated the 44th National Day and the 74th birthday of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said with gusto, tremendous fervour and true spirit.

The school premises was bedecked with festoons and flags of the great nation and the décor and ambience were perfectly in tune with a celebration of such magnitude. The presence of the chief guest Sheikh Ali Abdullah Al Hasmie, Deputy Walli of Muttrah; guest of honour Kiran Asher, Vice Chairman, Board of Directors, Indian Schools in the Sultanate; Dr. Avirat Vaishnav, President of the Indian School Muscat Managing Committee and other eminent

dignitaries made the solemn occasion very special indeed, says a press release.

The Principal Srinivas K. Naidu extended a warm welcome to the distinguished dignitaries and the rest of the audience.

The Middle Section of Indian School Muscat, the architect of an exhilarating and enthralling programme, paid a befitting tribute to Oman and its magnanimous leader His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. The melodious birthday song rendered by the students for His Majesty overwhelmed the audience as it spoke volumes about the commitment, loyalty and deeply embedded love for the truly exceptional leader.

RECOGNITION

NDC names winners of 2nd raffle draw

Gulf Drilling receives ISO certification

MUSCAT: National Detergent Company (NDC) announced the winners of its ‘Bahar Bonanza’ second and final raffle draw, which was held at Lulu Hypermarket in Bausher recently. Three iPhone 5S, five Samsung Note 3, 15 Samsung S4 smartphones, and 10 Samsung 40” LED TVs will be given away to 33 lucky winners, says a press release.

“This promotion is our way of showing gratitude towards the support and patronage from our rapidly growing customer base. It reflects our continuous drive to reward our loyal customers and

MUSCAT: Gulf Drilling, a fully owned subsidiary of MB Petroleum Services Oman, has been certified as ISO 9001:2008 compliant by DNV Business Assurance Management Systems.

This certification is valid for all services of onshore drilling for the oil and gas sector in the Sultanate of Oman, says a press release.

To receive this certification, Gulf Drilling implemented an effective quality management system complying with the requirements of this standard.

On receiving the certification, Salim Al Harthy, CEO, Gulf

provide them with opportunities to win valuable prizes,” said Anish Kumar, Head of Marketing and Regional Sales of NDC. During the promotion, the com-

pany received excellent support from many of the trade partners including Lulu Hypermarket, Sultan Centre, Al Tayebat and K. M. Trading.

MILESTONE: Salim Al Harthy, CEO, Gulf Drilling, and his team with the ISO 9001:2008 certificate. – Supplied photo

Drilling, said: “DNV is one of the world’s leading certification bodies/registrars offering the latest in management systems certification services.

“With this certification under our belt, we have already commenced our journey towards increased business improvement and excellence.”

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WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

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S

CLARKE TO MISS VITAL INDIA TEST LEAD-UP GAME Injured Australian skipper Michael Clarke said on Monday he will miss a vital lead-up game, raising fresh doubts about his chances of playing in next month’s first Test against India. >C3

Ali apologises to nation as Oman try to salvage pride Omani captain apologised to the fans for the semifinal loss to Qatar even as the team are hoping to salvage some pride with a win over the UAE in the thirdplace match

DISAPPOINTED: Oman captain Ali Al Habsi consoles midfielder Ahmed Mubarak ‘Kanu’ after their

semifinal loss to Qatar at the Gulf Cup in Riyadh on Sunday. – ISMAIL AL FARSI/Times of Oman

RIYADH: A disappointed Ali Al Habsi apologised to the nation after their semifinal loss to Qatar even as Paul Le Guen-coached Omanis are hoping to salvage some pride with a victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the Gulf Cup third-place match here on Tuesday.

Sunday’s 3-1defeat to Qatar left the Omani fans in shock and the Omani captain promptly tendered unreserved apology while hoping for a bright future of the Sultanate’s soccer. “I apologise for the country and the Omanis fans. We could have done better. We committed a few mistakes and that cost us the victory against Qatar and a place in the final,” Ali Al Habsi said while refusing to blame any individual for the defeat.

“It’s very unfortunate. But this is football where if you don’t score off the chances that come your way,

HOCKEY

Muttrah Wali to preside over HM’s Cup draw

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you will be punished,” he added.

“But as a team we played good football and we hoped to win the title. People did not expect us to reach semifinals. But we played excellent football and reached the semifinals.

“We also have young talented players. But they need more time to improve further and Insha Allah the future will be bright.”

“We are satisfied with our performance. It is true we wanted to achieve even better results. Hopefully with everyone’s support we will achieve it in the future.”

Paul Le Guen, meanwhile, said: “The changes in team composition and strategy during Qatar match were his responsibility.”

“But I am sure things will be different at the Asian Cup,” he said referring to the continental championship to be organised in Australia early next year.

“Some of the injured whom we missed here will be back in the team for the Asian Cup. We need them in some key positions.

“We will be better with bright future. But we should develop ourselves with full concentration”.

Meanwhile, UAE coach Mehdi Ali lauded his players performance during their 3-2 semifinal loss to hosts Saudi Arabia.

‘We played a good game. All credit to the players for fighting back from 2-0 deficit to equalise before Saudi Arabia won with a goal towards the end,” he said.

CHIEF GUEST: Ahmed bin

Hilal Al Busaidi.

MUSCAT: The draw ceremony of 2014 His Majesty’s Cup Hockey Championship will take place at the Oman Olympic Committee headquarters at 7.00 pm on Tuesday.

According to a press release issued by Oman Hockey Association (OHA) on Monday, the ceremony will be presided over

by Al Saiyed Ahmed bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Wali of Muttrah. OHA chief Shaikh Mahfoodh Ali Juma Al Juma will be the guest of honour.

Representatives from participating clubs, the OHA board members and Ministry of Sports Affairs’ officials will also attend the ceremony.

“His Majesty’s Cup has assumed international status as most of the teams are inviting top players from countries like India, Pakistan and Egypt,” the OHA statement said.

Keeping in view of importance and prestige involved with the championship, the OHA has also invited umpires from India and Pakistan to officiate the matches.

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

SPORTS

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Kiwi coach wary of Kohli’s devils look to blast hyena myths Sharjah conditions W C O M M E N TA RY

New Zealand seek a series-levelling win after losing the first Test in Abu Dhabi by 248 runs and drawing the second in Dubai WARMING UP: Pakistani captain Misbah-ul-Haq, frontt, and team-

SHARJAH: New Zealand coach Mike Hesson warned his team needed to be at their best to compete on a flat Sharjah pitch where they meet Pakistan in the third and final Test from Wednesday.

New Zealand seek a serieslevelling win after losing the first Test in Abu Dhabi by 248 runs and drawing the second in Dubai.

Hesson said a flat and grass-less Sharjah pitch will be tough.

“In the other two pitches we could see grass but not here. This looks a bit different. Sharjah traditionally is lower and skiddier and slows up as the game goes on. So I don’t expect this wicket to be any different,” said Hesson on Monday.

“Look the warm up game we had played here had lot more grass on it,” said Hesson of the drawn threeday game before the Test series.

“We have to play very well to be able to compete in these conditions.”

Sharjah cricket stadium has been a happy hunting ground for Pakistan since 1980s when they dominated One-day Internationals here. They chased down a tough 302-run target here to win a Test against Sri Lanka in January this year.

Hesson admitted winning the toss will be an advantage after team calling correctly dictated terms in the first two Tests.

“Toss does gives great advantage, no doubt about it,” said Hes-

mates Zulfiqar Babar, right, Yasir Shah, second left, and Taufeeq Umar, left, at a practice session in Sharjah. – AFP

son whose team lost the toss in Abu Dhabi but won it in Dubai.

“I think being able to bat first and third rather than second and fourth has advantages in this part of the world. But it does not mean you are out of the game, only thing is that it makes it a bit harder.”

Hesson said his team’s improved performance in the second Test adds to the confidence in the camp.

“I think it was a great Test match and we gained a lot of confidence from that and we made big improvements from Abu Dhabi to Dubai but we know that Pakistan will come hard at us again and we have to be able to withstand them over long periods of time,” said Hesson, 40.

Hesson said New Zealand’s come from behind win against Sri Lanka to level a two-Test series 1-1 in November 2012 also a boost. “We gained a lot of confidence from there and that was really impressive. The ball swung there (in Sri Lanka) and if the ball swings here it gives us more of a chance,” said Hesson, who is in charge since July 2012.

Hesson praised Pakistan legspinner Yasir Shah who took a career-best 5-79 and left-armer Zulfiqar Babar, who got eight wickets in the second Test. “I think he (Shah) is a high quality bowler.

“In all conditions around the

world he will be a challenge. He bowls at good pace and he has good variety and he bowls wicket taking delivers. Babar knows these conditions well and because of the pace he bowls and bowls wide of the crease he too is a challenge.”

Meanwhile, rival captains Misbah-ul Haq and Brendon McCullum hope to win the toss and enjoy a kick-start to the series-deciding third Test. Pakistan’s spinners — left armer Zulfiqar Babar (13 wickets in two Tests) and leggie Yasir Shah (11) —will hold the key.

But McCullum said his team can take confidence from the improved performance in the second Test.

“We would have loved to have won the second Test,” said McCullum. “But you have to look at what we have done in Dubai, bank the confidence and head to Sharjah knowing that we have an opportunity to win away from home if we play up a little bit up.”

“It is satisfying to keep the series alive (after the second Test) and it will give us more confidence, we learned a lot from the (last) game and hopefully we can improve more.”

New Zealand may bolster their batting by bringing in in-form Luke Ronchi for Jimmy Neesham who has struggled with just 39 runs in four innings. — AFP

illiam Shakespeare BEYOND THE BOUNDARY enlightened us on the simple truth about the beautiful rose some centuries ago but the more PRASAD PANICKER than $100 billion-a-year global floral industry spoils us with put on reluctantly but a natural exciting options to hide the outcome of his personality. truth cleverly and conjure up Anyone who watched Kohli durthe essence dramatically. You ing his disastrous England tour could hold a bunch of all red roses or a bunch of a meaningful a couple of months back would know it was a dark and abysmal mix in colour and number, but the smell and feel of having it de- pit of life for someone who was pitted as the next big thing from pends a hell of a lot on how you India: Virender Sehwag and view it. Traditionally, a bunch Sachin Tendulkar rolled into a of 11 drives home the message effectively. Ravi Shastri looks at 1.75cm frame.

Kohli’s character remained the bunch admiringly and tells just the same on and off the field the world that “this bunch has throughout that brief period of it” even as Kohli is getting the roses to “look in the eye and feel name and shame. We seldom found him walking back to the equal”, but it’s not quite love at dressing room with his tail of first sight for the Aussies who ego tucked between the legs see nothing romantic about the or wallowing in self pity. He whole affair. It’s customary for Australian cricketers, both past was Kohli minus big scores, of course, but with all the personal and present, to take pot-shots traits intact, which was why he at the visitors, and the media was able to roll his eyes at his lap it up happily and hype it mates when they didn’t do what up hysterically to make the most of it, but this time around they should, or when they did what they shouldn’t. Like the there’s an Indian team led by a way he looked at Suresh Raina guy who doesn’t mind getting when he was slow to respond to ugly and meeting fire with a quick single, or Rohit Sharma fire. Obviously, he doesn’t fear getting hurt or hurting the guys when he, on way to that epic 264, unwittingly ran Kohli out with the handle bars.

For long, team India had been when the skipper was middling the ball pleasingly. led by a captain who laid stress As they say, it’s going to be more on deeds than words, but a baptism by fire for Kohli at M.S. Dhoni’s perceived succesthe Gabba. Kohli the player sor is a man for whom aggreshad his baptism during the sion is not a mask he tries to

2011-’12 tour when he kicked the devils out of the rites. He may not mind giving up half his match fee or more this time around as well to respond to rowdy crowds trying to break him apart shouting “the worst” things about his mother and sister — hopefully, not by showing the same obscene hand gesture. He could be innovative in this aspect, perhaps, and that’s something Peter Siddle will have to learn to live with as long as he is hooked to the game, for the simple reason that Kohli, just 26 years old, will be the man calling the shots for India for quite some time, no matter what happens at the Gabba.

It was in 2009 new research discovered the truth behind the giggles of the dirty, lazy scavengers of the wild. And it’s no laughing matter. The sounds are actually a sign of frustration made when hyenas fight for, and do not get, their cut of the hijacked flesh. The crackles heard from the Australian slips when Mitchell Johnson walked back to his bowling mark have long been thought to be similar to the maniacal giggles made by hyenas. For all the wrong reasons, perhaps.

It’s time to put the giggles in the scientific context.

The writer is a freelance contributor based in India. All the views and opinions expressed in the article are solely those of the author and do not reflect those of Times of Oman

CHAMPIONS TROPHY HOCKEY

India names 18-member squad NEW DELHI: Striker Gurwinder Singh Chandi failed to make the cut as Hockey India announced a 18-member squad, led by Sadar Singh, for the eightnation Hero Men’s Champions Trophy to be held in Bhubaneswar from December 6-14. Lalit Upadhyay, who has been capped nine times earlier, has been draft-

ed in place of Chandi in the squad named by HI selectors after trials were conducted at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here on November 18.

Besides Chandi, midfielder Chinglensana Singh Kangujam has also been left out and S K Uthappa has been brought in his place.

Striker Akashdeep Singh could

not turn up for the trials but he still found a place in the squad. Harjot Singh and Gurjinder Singh were the other new faces in the squad.

India will play their first match against Germany on December 6 which will be followed by clashes against Argentina on December 7 and against the Netherlands on December 9. — PTI ISL

Dynamos sneak past NE United GUWAHATI: After a string of disappointing results, Delhi Dynamos FC finally registered their second victory in the ongoing Hero Indian Super League when they pipped hosts NorthEast United FC 2-1 in a keenly-contested match here on Monday.

The match witnessed full of exciting moments but it was the home team that wasted innumerable scoring chances much to the disappointment of the packed Indira Gandhi Stadium.

Delhi rode on first half goals from Gustavo dos Santos (6th minute) and skipper Hans Mulder (14th) to eke out the win, while NorthEast United’s lone goal came in the 80th minute through Kondwani Mtonga.

The match was full of action as both the teams were reduced to men.

The visitors were forced to play the second half with 10 players after Delhi Dynamos FC’s midfielder Shouvik Ghosh was shown second yellow card during additional time of the first half.

NorthEast United too was reduced to 10 men when defender Aiborlang Khongjee also received second yellow card in the 83rd minute. - PTI

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

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SPORTS

Clarke to miss vital lead-up game to opening India Test condition. Chief selector Rod Marsh had earlier suggested that Wednesday was a deadline day for Clarke to get himself ready to play in the Adelaide match and if he played and recovered well, he would take his place in the Brisbane Test side.

No possible Test replacement has been named.

Clarke, who was named in a 12-man squad on Monday subject to a fitness test on his left hamstring, was selected to play for a Cricket Australia XI against the tourists

FRESH DOUBTS: Captain Michael Clarke, though named in the

squad, is still doubtful for the first India Test. – File photo

in Adelaide on Friday

SYDNEY: Injured Australian skipper Michael Clarke said on Monday he will miss a vital lead-up game, raising fresh doubts about his chances of playing in next month’s first Test against India.

Clarke, who was named in a 12man squad on Monday subject to a fitness test on his left hamstring, was selected to play for a Cricket

Australia XI against the tourists in Adelaide on Friday.

Clarke later confirmed that he will not be playing in that match, placing his position in the Test squad in doubt.

“I’ve been pulled out of, or passed unfit to play the game in Adelaide,” Clarke told reporters in Sydney.

“The medical team in the Australian cricket team have ruled me out of that game.”

But he said he was hopeful of

playing in a Sydney club game at the weekend to prove his fitness, if he was allowed to take part.

“I would hope with my experience that the selectors, my teammates, Cricket Australia, will all respect my opinion,” he said.

Clarke has been struggling to avoid missing his first home Test match after injuring the hamstring in the recent one-day series against South Africa in Perth. He also continues to undergo daily treatment for an ongoing back

WA R M - U P M AT C H

Aaron, Vijay star for India ADELAIDE: Paceman Varun Aaron and opener Murali Vijay impressed for India on the opening day of the tourists’ match against a Cricket Australia XI in Adelaide on Monday. The CA XI — lacking any big names — were dismissed for 219, with Aaron taking three for 72 off 17 overs in a bright start to the tour of Australia.

Fellow quicks Mohammed ShaCRICKET

UAE face Afghanistan in ODI series DUBAI: United Arab Emirates coach Aaqib Javed is hoping the series of four one-day internationals against Afghanistan starting this week in Dubai will help prepare his team for next year’s World Cup. The February-March World Cup will be UAE’s second after they featured in the 1996 event held in the subcontinent while for Afghanistan it will be their maiden appearance in a 50-over tournament. Javed, a former Pakistan paceman, said he would have liked his team to compete against a full Test playing nation.

“Look, it would have been ideal had we got a few matches against a top team but all of them are busy so even playing against a one-day status team will give us good preparation,” Javed told AFP. The four one-day matches will be played on November 28, 30, December 2 and 4 — all at the International Cricket Council (ICC) academy in Dubai.

UAE is placed in World Cup Group B alongside defending champions India, Pakistan, the West Indies, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Ireland.

Afghanistan are in Group A with Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, England, Scotland and Bangladesh. - AFP

mi and Bhuvneshwar Kumar each grabbed two wickets, while legspinner Karn Sharma snapped up two for 30. India made a positive start to their innings in the twoday match with Vijay clipping four boundaries in his unbeaten knock of 32 off 50 balls as the tourists went to stumps at 55 for one.

Opener Shikhar Dhawan was dismissed for 10, the only Indian

wicket to fall in the 16 overs to the close. Aaron was not given the new ball but was still the pick of the bowlers. His opening spell of six overs went for just 15 runs and featured the wickets Ashton Turner and Nick Stevens. The right-armer, who clocked at 152.1 km/h during a recent ODI against Sri Lanka, returned later to remove Alex Gregory. — AFP

Hazlewood called up While the focus was on Clarke, uncapped New South Wales paceman Josh Hazlewood was rewarded with a call-up to the squad for his strong recent performances against South Africa in the oneday series. It is his first inclusion in a Test squad since 2012-13.

Hazlewood, 23, captured nine wickets in the series against South Africa, which Australia won 4-1 on Sunday to return to the top of the International Cricket Council one-day rankings.

“Josh is a young player of great talent and he thoroughly deserves this opportunity,” Marsh said.

“He has impressed in the recent one-day series and we are excited to see what he can produce if given the opportunity in Brisbane.”

Veteran paceman Ryan Harris returns to the national squad following knee surgery and will play

in this week’s round of Sheffield Shield matches as part of his build up to the opening Test from December 4.

“If my knee doesn’t feel right at all I will tell them (selectors), but I will do anything to play that first Test,” Harris told reporters.

“I am not trying to unselect myself. But I am not going into it underdone. You can’t afford to drag one bloke into a Test match.”

Harris has told the selectors he needed one more shield match this week to be ready.

“I made it clear I wasn’t happy with where I was at. It’s perfect that I get another game,” Harris said.

If Harris is fit, Hazlewood and Peter Siddle will battle for the final berth in the Test side, with offspinner Nathan Lyon expected to be retained.

Senior batsman Shane Watson returns to replace Glenn Maxwell at No.3, while left-armer Mitchell Starc has been squeezed out of Australia’s pace attack.

The squad: Michael Clarke (capt), Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, David Warner, Shane Watson. - AFP

OPINION

Haddin drops hints on retirement MELBOURNE: Australia’s first-choice wicketkeeper Brad Haddin is contemplating retirement after next year’s Ashes in England with an aim to successfully defend the urn. “I’ve enjoyed being part of the Australian group. We’ve got a big schedule with the World Cup and Ashes and they’re as big a carrot as you can have put in front of you from a cricketer’s point of view.

I’d like to be part of that, after that it’d be fair enough to say it’s pretty close to the end there,” Haddin was quoted as saying in the Big Sports Breakfast weekend radio show. Haddin admitted to being emotionally drained earlier this year.

“I dont think I was ever going to retire, I still think I’ve got a lot of cricket in me. After the emotional and mental drain of coming back and playing the way we did in the Ashes, from where I’d come from to get to that point I just hit a wall,” Haddin added. - PTI

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

SPORTS Last chance for some of the big guns year when the Munich side beat them 3-1 in Manchester.

There will be plenty of nerves in Europe as the opening phase of the Champions League draws to a close with Match Day Five providing the last chance for some clubs to keep

TRAINING HARD: Manchester City players take part in a team training session at the ‘City Football Academy’ in Manchester, north west

England, on Monday, ahead of Tuesday’s Uefa Champions League group stage football match against Bayern Munich. – AFP

alive their hopes of reaching the last 16

Champions League’s next matches Today

LONDON: There will be plenty of tension in the air in North London on Wednesday when out-of-sorts Arsenal face Borussia Dortmund seeking to qualify from the Champions League group stage for the 15th successive season.

There will be plenty of nerves elsewhere in Europe too as the opening phase of the competition draws to a close with Matchday Five providing the last chance for some clubs to keep alive their hopes of reaching the last 16.

Six teams have already qualified for the knockout rounds: reigning champions Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris St Germain, Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Porto.

Others, like last season’s beaten finalists Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, AS Roma, Shakhtar Donetsk, Bayer Leverkusen and FC Basel have a realistic chance of joining them with a match to spare, while for others only a dramatic improvement will see them stay in contention.

The latter include big-spending English champions Manchester City who are bottom of Group E with two points from four games but will remain in contention if they beat Bayern at home on Tuesday or CSKA Moscow versus Roma ends in a draw.

Bayern have already clinched top spot but Roma (4 points), CSKA (4) and City (2), are all tightly bunched.

Roma, who beat CSKA 5-1 in the opening match, will go through if they beat the Russians again and City lose at home to Bayern, as they did in the group phase last

Tomorrow

Head-to-head W D L Qualified

GROUP E

CSKA Moscow RUS AS Roma ITA Man City ENG FC Bayern GER

1 0 2 2 0 3

Bayern Roma CSKA Man City

GD Pts 10 12 -4 4 -4 4 -2 2

GROUP A

Qualified

GD Pts

Atletico

7 -1 1 -7

9 6 6 3

Real Basel Liverpool Ludogorets

9 0 -4 -5

12 6 3 3

4 0 -1 -3

9 5 4 4

12 2 -4 -10

12 7 2 1

Atletico ESP Olympiacos GRE

1

Malmo SWE Juventus ITA

0

0

1

Juventus Malmo

Ludogorets BUL Liverpool ENG

0

0

1

Basel SUI Real Madrid ESP

0

0

3

1

1

Olymp’cos

GROUP B

GROUP F

APOEL CYP Barcelona ESP PSG FRA Ajax NED

0 0 1 0 1 0

PSG Barcelona Ajax APOEL

3 10 4 9 -4 2 -3 1

Chelsea Schalke Sporting Maribor

7 -1 0 -6

GROUP G

Schalke 04 GER Chelsea ENG Sporting POR Maribor SVN

0 2 3 0 1 0

8 5 4 3

GROUP C Leverkusen GER AS Monaco FRA

0

1

2

Lev’kusen Monaco

Zenit RUS Benfica POR

2

0

1

Zenit Benfica

Anderlecht BEL Galatasaray TUR

2

1

0

Arsenal ENG Dortmund GER

3

1

3

Dortmund Arsenal Anderlecht Gal’saray

GROUP D

GROUP H

BATE Borisov BLR Porto POR Shakhtar UKR Athletic ESP Missed Chances Goals Bayern 11

Crosses attempted

0 0 1 0 1 0

Porto Shakhtar BATE Athletic

9 10 12 8 -17 3 -4 1

Sergio Aguero Possession

98

65%

Barcelona 8

75

Real Madrid 11

94

55%

PSG 6

91

54%

Man City 4

69

54%

62%

Manchester City Star striker Aguero hoping to inspire City – without suspended players Fernandinho and Yaya Toure – against undefeated Bayern

Rival Nations

Germany

Home Comforts D12 Blues must rediscover W30 home form to maintain Home record in any hope of reaching Europe Last 16 Source: UEFA, Infostrada Sports

10

Spain England

5

Portugal

5

France L5

Alexis Sanchez Arsenal Playmaker Sanchez providing Gunners with enhanced attacking threat since transfer from Barcelona

English teams struggling to make impact in this season’s competition – winning just five of 16 matches to date

12 wins

4

Old Enemies Arsenal looking to halt run of four successive home defeats to German teams

L5 W10

D1

Home against German opposition Graphic News /

Graphics

Arsenal collapse While City look for a win over familiar German opposition in the north of England, Arsenal will do the same in the capital after blowing their chance of securing a last 16 spot on Matchday Four.

Arsenal were coasting to victory over Anderlecht, leading 3-0 with half an hour to play, before allowing the Belgian side to recover and steal a point in a 3-3 draw. However, they should still qualify in second place and will do so if they get at least a draw against Dortmund and the other game between Anderlecht and Galatasaray is also drawn.

But if Arsenal slip up again -entirely possible as Borussia beat them 2-1 at the Emirates in the group stage last season -- and if Anderlecht or Galatasaray should win, then nothing will be decided until the final matchday on Dec. 9.

Arsenal though are not in the best of form going into Wednesday’s game, and their late capitulation to Anderlecht has been followed by successive league defeats to Swansea City and Manchester United. Some of Europe’s traditionally stronger teams are, like Arsenal, also not yet certain of their survival, including five-time European champions Liverpool who are battling to stay alive in Group B. Liverpool face Ludogorets in Bulgaria, and will be out if Basel beat Real Madrid and the Merseysiders fail to beat the Bulgarians.

Ludogorets, who have been far from disgraced in their first campaign with a win over Basel to their credit, will finish bottom of group if they lose and need to beat Liverpool to have a chance of third spot.

One criticism of the Champions League in recent years has been that the same teams play each other too often, making the competition less exciting. That will change from next season with a new seeding arrangement in place, but the fourth meeting between Schalke 04 and Chelsea in little over a year could prove enjoyable for the German side’s new coach Roberto Di Matteo.

He led Chelsea to Champions League glory when they won the title in 2012 but was sacked six months later. Chelsea top Group G with eight points, three points clear of Schalke, and while the Londoners are virtually certain to qualify, Di Matteo’s side can make them wait until last match and boost their chances with a win to lead the table. - Reuters FOOTBALL

Real Madrid to play exhibition matches in Melbourne MELBOURNE: European champions Real Madrid will play exhibition matches with an English Premier League side and a Serie A club at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground next year, organisers said on Monday.

The teams will play each other in three fixtures at the 100,000-seat MCG from July 18-24 as part of the International Champions Cup, a series of pre-season matches involving top European clubs, Victoria state sports minister Damien Drum told reporters.

The other teams will be named in coming weeks.

Manchester City, who own Melbourne City in Australia’s top-flight A-League, are expected to participate. Local media have speculated Inter Milan will be the third. - Reuters

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

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ISC TENNIS

Subash, Yash in 2nd round MUSCAT: Subash Pillai and Yash Tanna made short work of their first round opponents to storm into the second round of the boys under-17 singles of the Falcon Insurance Companysponsored annual tennis tournament organised by the Indian Social Club Muscat.

Subash and Yash advanced without losing a game. While Subash blanked Vivek Lad 8-0, Yash demolished Harkrishna Singh 8-0. In other first round matches of the same event, Pranav Vinod downed Lakshmi Narayan 8-4.

Amaan Kazi put in a brilliant all-round game to keep Anurag Kumar at bay to register a fine 8-3 victory and Ayush Kumar notched up an impressive 8-3 victory over Vedanth Ram. The team of Sanskar Dubey and Vedanth Ram advanced to the semi-finals of the junior doubles after scoring a confident 8-3 victory over Anurag Kumar and Lakshmi Narayan.

The duo of Amaan Kazi and Ayaan Malhotra displayed good team-work and advanced after registering a well-deserved 8-4 win over Shyam M and Prashant Luthra.and the team of Ankith AR and Shlok Ail also advanced with a fine 8-2 victory over Rishabh Kant Jha and Varun Deepak.

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SPORTS Nika win RC44 Oman Cup, Team Aqua take Tour title With no team able to discard the last event of the season, the podium positions were by no means secure as the last day of racing got underway at the RC44 Oman Cup

MUSCAT: The 2014 RC44 Championship Tour has seen the 13-strong fleet compete in five events across three continents, with the finale taking place this week at The Wave, Muscat.

With no team able to discard the last event of the season, the podium positions were by no means secure as the last day of racing got underway at the RC44 Oman Cup, hosted by Oman Sail and sponsored by Mercedes-Benz Oman.

Going into the final day in a se-

OMAN CUP: Team Nika celebrate their victory. – Supplied photo

date seven-knot breeze, Vladimir Prosikhin’s Team Nika, with tactician Terry Hutchinson calling the shots, sat at the top of the leader board having shown an unmatched level of consistency throughout the four days of fleet racing.

Defending Champions Team Aqua looked to have the overall Championship Tour wrapped

up, but didn’t get off to the best of starts on the final day, being called over the line in the opening race, rounding the windward mark last.

Out in front Vladimir Liubomirov’s Bronenosec, rounded the windward mark first.

The Russian team were trying to get back onto the podium for the overall Tour after a disappointing

GOLF

Bank Sohar sponsor of Sayyid Abbas Trophy MUSCAT: In yet another year of support towards the precision sport of golf in the Sultanate, Bank Sohar is proud to announce its fifth consecutive year of exclusive sponsorship for the 2014 edition of the Sayyid Abbas Golf Trophy tournament – the oldest and most prestigious golf championships in Oman.

The championship was held between November 21 and 22 at Ghala Valley Golf Club with Khalel Al Wahaibi taking home the trophy.

The Sayyid Abbas Trophy is a two-day winter tournament which follows the 18-stroke-hole competition. It is the longest running championship at Ghala Valley Golf Club and historically it has witnessed immense interest from members and golf

enthusiasts alike. Present at the event to demonstrate support was Bank Sohar’s Acting CEO, Rashad Ali Al Musafir, in addition to other senior members of the bank’s management.

Commenting on Bank Sohar’s support, Rashad Al Musafir said:

“Oman has always been a nation very passionate about sports – be it traditional pastimes or sports that are globally popular.

“In recent times, golf has rapidly gained popularity as a sport of choice in the Sultanate, and we have been proud exclusive

TENNIS

Oman U-16 team get hero’s welcome MUSCAT: The Sultanate’s under-16 team, who won the silver medal at the recently concluded GCC Junior Tennis Championships, were accorded a hero’s welcome upon their return from Bahrain where the regional event took place from November 17 to 21.

The Omani delegation were received at the Muscat International Airport by Oman Tennis Association (OTA) General Secretary Mohammed Ibrahim Al Balushi and Treasurer Siddique Al Hashmi.

Oman team included Younis Al Rawahi, Abdullah Al Barwani, Zakariya Al Suleimani and Ammar Al Khanjari. The delegation was led by OTA Executive Manager Salman Al Balushi and included coach Ariel Baldivino and umpire Mohammed Al Falhi.

Meanwhile, OTA chief Mutassim Al Zadjali lauded the team’s achievement.

He said: “What our players achieved in Bahrain is a break through achievement and it coincides with Oman’s 44th National Day celebrations.”

Salman Al Balushi said: “The

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team won the silver medal thanks to their hard work and the achievements cap the efforts being made by the OTA for the overall development of tennis in the country. The players participation in the recent OAB Oman Open

tournament also helped them to achieve good results in Bahrain.”

Oman’s star players Younis Al Rawahi and Abdullah Al Barwani thanked the OTA for supporting them and helping them to develop well as players.

sponsors of the Sayyid Abbas Golf Tournament for many years now as encouragement for the local population to participate in this precision sport and expand their skills.”

The Sayyid Abbas Trophy is annual event first initiated in 1979.

The 2014 edition of the tournament marked yet another successful event with the participation of over 70 golfers.

Rashad Al Musafir added: “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Khalil Al Wahaibi on winning the trophy and also commend the organisers on a job well done. Bank Sohar has always been at the forefront of supporting such sports events and tournaments and aims to continue to do so in the years to come.”

first three days of racing in Oman.

Tactician Michele Ivaldi called a perfect race; Bronenosec extended their lead throughout to take their first win of the event.

Fellow countrymen Synergy finished second followed by Peninsula Petroleum with the RC44 Oman Cup overall leaders, Team Nika finishing fourth.

Team Aqua could only recover to ninth place.

With the breeze increasing, Peninsula Petroleum looked like they would lead round the windward mark in the second race of the day.

They went for the tack underneath Charisma, thought better of it, instead ducking the leading trio Charisma, Artemis and Bronenosec.

Nico Poon’s extended his lead throughout to take Charisma’s third win in Oman, and jump into second overall ahead of Team Aqua, who by their high standards was having a bad day, finishing fifth and falling to third overall.

Team Nika had already secured the RC44 Oman Cup with a race to spare, the fight for the remaining podium positions was now on.

Four-point separated Charisma in second from Aqua and Artemis, both tied on 52 point going into the final race.

Nico Poon’s team didn’t start well, 10th at the top mark, but recovered to sixth by the leeward gate. Team Aqua, with Cameron Appleton calling the shots, dug deep moving up to second by the finish, Artemis one place behind.

Charisma’s seventh dropped them down to third overall.

RC44 Oman Cup overall ranking (after 12 races): 1. Team Nika 3 1 2 6 2 4 4 1 3 4 3 6 – 39; 2. Team Aqua 4 3 7 2 8 1 3 6 1 9 6 2 (2)- 54; 3. Charisma 1 5 5 9 1 2 6 3 7 8 1 7 – 55; 4. Artemis Racing 5 4 8 1 4 7 7 2 5 5 4 3 – 55; 5. Synergy Russian Sailing Team 9 2 3 4 7 3 5 5 9 2 7 8 – 64; 6. Peninsula Petroleum Sailing Team 10 9 1 10 6 8 1 4 4 3 9 1 – 66; 7. Katusha 2 6 4 5 3 6 2 9 6 7 10 9 – 69; 8. Bronenosec Sailing Team 6 10 9 3 10 10 10 8 2 1 2 4 (2) – 77; 9. Gazprom Youth Sailing Challenge 7 8 6 8 5 9 8 5RDG 11DNS 10 5 5 – 87; 10. Aleph Racing 8 7 10 7 9 5 9 7 8 6 8 10 – 94.

2014 RC44 Championship Tour overall fleet race ranking (after five events with one discard): 1.

Team Aqua – 8; 2. Peninsula Petroleum Sailing Team – 13; 3. Bronenosec Sailing Team – 17; 4. Charisma – 17; 5.

Team Nika – 18; 6. Artemis Racing – 20; 7. Synergy Russian Sailing Team – 21; 8. Gazprom Youth Sailing Challenge – 30; 9. Katusha – 31; 10. Bombarda Racing- 33; 11. Aleph Racing – 37; 12. Artemis Racing Youth – 46; 13.

MAG Racing – 46.

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

SPORTS

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Ton-up Amandeep lifts ISC

OOC MEETS ATHLETES TO DISCUSS PREPARATIONS FOR RIO OLYMPICS The Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) on Monday held a meeting with the athletes who were granted funds to prepare for the Olympic Games to be organised in 2016. The main agenda of the meeting was to explain to the athletes the terms of agreement in granting the funds and its technical, financial and administrative obligations. The sportspersons selected for the purpose are show jumper Sultan Al Touqi, athletes Ahmed Al Marjabi and Shnoona Al Habsi, and shooter Wadha Al Balushi. — Supplied photo

G DIVISION: Global Money Exchange celebrate their victory.

Brief scores: OCT Seeb 130 for 8 in 20overs (Younis Murad 28, Yousif Rahim 26, Issam Othman 22 n.o.; Melwin Mathew 3/18, Sujith Kumar Rajagopalan 2/18, Sunil Baby 2/26) lost to Z-Axis Media 132 for 2 in 15 overs (Wajid Ali 43, K.G. Bentick 34 n.o., Melwin Mathew 23 n.o., Vijeesh C.V. 21). Points: Z-Axis Media -2 (2 games, 4 pts), OCT Seeb - Nil (2 games, Nil).

Batting first, ISC scored 278 for six in 30 overs and then they restricted OCT Al Amerat to 156 for eight

MUSCAT: Amandeep Singh slammed a brilliant 113 off 71 balls as Indian Social Club (ISC) recorded a 122-run win against OCT Al Amerat in a Khimji Ramdas-sponsored 30 overs-a-side B Division match.

Electing to bat after winning the toss, ISC reached 278 for the loss of six wickets in their 30 allotted overs thanks to a 185-run fourth-wicket partnership between Amandeep and Puneet Singh (80). Opening batsman Nishit Punja scored 31.

Nasser Al Balushi bowled brilliantly to return with figures of four for 47 in six overs.

OCT Al Amerat, in reply, scored 156 for the loss of eight wickets in 30 overs. Nathar Al Balushi top scored with 69 while Nasser Al Balushi made 25. Paramjeet Singh bagged three wickets while Vineet Nair took two.

Brief scores: ISC 278 for 6 in 30 overs (Amandeep Singh 113, Puneet Singh 80, Nishit Punja 31; Nasser Al Balushi 4/47) bt OCT Al Amerat 156 for 88 in 30 overs (Nathar Al Balushi 69, Nasser Al Balushi 25; Paramjeet Singh 3/22, Vineet

C DIVISION: Z-Axis Media pose for a group photo. – Supplied photos

CENTURION:Amandeep Singh.

Nair 2/10). Points: ISC - 2 (2 games, 4 pts), OCT Al Amerat –Nil (2 games, Nil).

Easy for Z-Axis Media In an Al Ansari Group of Companies-sponsored C Division T20 match, Z-Axis Media registered a comprehensive eight-wicket win against OCT Seeb. Deciding to bat first, OCT Seeb scored 130 for eight wickets in 20 overs. Younis Murad (28), skipper Yousif Rahim (26) and Issam Othman (22 not out) all made useful contributions.

Melwin Mathew took three wickets while Sujith Kumar Ragagopalan and Sunil Baby bagged two each. Z-Axis Media replied with 132 for the loss of two wickets in 15 overs thanks to good contributions from opening batsman Wajid Ali (43), K.G. Bentick (34 not out), Melwin Mathew (23 not out) and Vijeesh C.V. (21).

Oman Engineering win In an Enhance-sponsored ‘E’ Division T20 match, Oman Engineering recorded a 63-win against Carillion Alawi.

Batting first, Oman Engineering scored 179 for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs thanks to an opening partnership of 87 in 8.3 overs between Syed Fakhar (48) and Irteza Ahmed (41).

In reply, Carilion Alawi were bowled out for 116 in 14.5 overs with Pawan Kumar chipping in with 38. Irteza Ahmed claimed three wickets while Nagesh Kalldulla, skipper Mohammed Tahir and Awais Manzoor bagged two wickets apiece.

Brief scores: Oman Engineering 179 for 7 in 20overs (Syed Fakhar 48, Irteza Ahmed 41; Issam Othman 3/22, Davinder Kumar 2/32) bt Carillion Alawi 116 all out in 14.5overs (Pawan Kumar 38; Irteza Ahmed 3/31, Nagesh Kalldulla 2/16, Awais Manzoor 2/32). Points: Oman Engineering - 2 (2 games, 3 pts), Carillion Alawi - Nil (2 games, 2 pts).

Caledonians down RAHRC In an ‘I’ Division T20 match, Caledonian College clinched a 19-run win against Ras Al Hamra Recreation Club (RAHRC).

Opting to bat first, Caledonian College scored 162 for the loss of five wickets in 20 overs. RAHRC in their turn scored 143 for the

loss of seven wickets in 20 overs.

Brief scores: Caledonian College 162 for 5 in 20 overs (Mohammed Shafeeq 59 n.o., Danish Zakria 37, Mukhtar Ali 36; Sunil Machanda 2/27, Jasim Al Lawati 2/28) bt RAHRC 143 for 7 in 20 overs (Sunil Kumar 47; Hamza Yunus 3/34).

Points: Caledonian College - 2 (3 games, 6 pts), RAHRC - Nil (3 games, 3 pts).

Ranjith stars for Assarain B Skipper Ranjith Nair opening the batting made a brilliant 52 and thereafter claimed three wickets in three overs to steer Assarain B to a 28-run win against Ooredoo in a Raha Poly Products-sponsored ‘D’ Division T20 match.

Brief scores: Assarain B 180 for 4 in 20 overs (Naveed Mushtaq 70, Ranjith Nair 52, Thamim Ansari 27 n.o.) bt Ooredoo 152 all out in 20 overs (Mohd Ali Akbar Al Balushi 29, Sanjay Menon Ramakrishnan 24, Bibin Chellan A. 21; Binoy Varghese 3/15, Ranjith Nair 3/27).

Points: Assarain B – 2 (3 games, 5 pts), Ooredoo – Nil (2 games, Nil).

Global Money Exchange win Global Money Exchange defeated Teejan Furnishing Beatrice by 29 runs in a G Division T20 match.

Batting first, Global Money Exchange scored 178 runs for seven in 20 stipulated overs. In reply, Teejan Furnishing Beatrice were bowled out for 149 in 19.1 overs.

Brief scores: Global Money Exchange 178 for 7 in 20 overs (Ashok Patel 72, Suraj Rao 51, Noushad S. 20; Saifur Rahman 2/29) bt Teejan Furnishing Beatrice 149 in 19.1 overs (Feroz O.V. 45, Jibin Kunnumpurath 30, Rikas Ashraf 21, Mohd Akhthar Sharfeer 20; Noushad H. 3/27, Suraj Rao 2/29 and Jerrin George 2/30). Points: Global Money Exchange – 2 (2 games, 2 pts), Teejan Furnishing Beatrice – Nil (3 games, 1 pt).

CRICKET

Assarain A down Enhance MUSCAT: Assarain A defeated Enhance in a low scoring Muscat Pharmacy & Stores-sponsored A Division 50 overs-a-side League match played at the MOS Turf Ground at Al Amerat on Saturday.

Opting to field after winning the toss, Enhance did well to bowl out defending champions Assarain A for 155 in 46.4 overs. Arun Poulose opening the batting scored 27 while Mohammed Nadeem (27) and Ramkumar (26) made valuable contributions.

Ananyo Sen with figures of four for 48 was the pick of the bowlers with support from Muthupandian and Nester Dhamba who bagged two wickets each conceding 14 and 18 runs respectively.

Set a target of 156 for a win Enhance lost wickets regularly and were bowled out for a measly 86 off 34 overs with a top score of 19 (77b) from Noorul Riaz.

The bowlers to cause the disaster were skipper V.S. Shiju and skipper Arif Hussain who claimed four wickets each giving away 11 and 12 runs respectively in seven overs each while Zeeshan

STAR PERFORMERS: Assarain A

team’s V. S. Shiju, left, and Arif Hussain. – Supplied photo

Maqsood ended with two for 15 in seven overs.

Brief scores: Assarain A 155 all out in 46.4 overs (Arun Poulose 27, Mohammed Nadeem 27, Ramkumar 26; Ananyo Sen 4/48, Muthupandian 2/14, Nester Dhamba 2/18) bt Enhance 86 all out in 34 overs (V. S. Shiju 4/11, Arif Hussain 4/12, Zeeshan Maqsood 2/15). Points: Assarain A - 5 (2 games, 10 pts), Enhance - Nil (2 games, 2 pts).

EXCITING ACTION

Tarik storms into U-12 final at OAB tennis tournament MUSCAT: The Oman Arab Bank (OAB) Tennis Tournament 2014 got off to a flying start with junior players hogging the limelight during the initial stages at the Al Hayat Tennis Center.

The OAB tennis tournament, being organised by Al Hayat Tennis Center at their courts, runs till December 5 and comprises nine categories — boys under-12 and under-16, girls under-14, men’s A and B singles, ladies singles, men’s and ladies doubles, and veterans singles.

The tournament has already seen plenty of exciting matches, especially in the junior section where Tarik Hussain stormed into the final of the boys under-12 event.

Tarik advanced to the summit clash with a hard fought 9-7 victory over Amir Heidari.

In the final, Tarik will take on the winner of second semifinal between Zaid al Hussein and Ayvert Van Waveren.

Earlier in the quarterfinals, Tarik recorded a 9-5 win over Alexander Jakson while Amir eased past Mathias Van Begin for a 9-2 win.

In the boys under-16 competition, Parsa Sanie and Ali Helal set up a semifinal showdown. Parsa accounted for Sam Baldvin 9-3 while Ali defeated Ahmed al Hajj 9-6.

The other semifinal will be contested by Mahdi al Lawati and Pablo Echeverri. In the quarterfi-

YOUNG TALENTS: Tarik Husseini and Amir Heidari pose for a photograph before their boys under-12 semifinal of the OAB tennis tournament at Al Hayat Tennis Center. – Supplied photo

nals, Mahdi defeated Fahd al Hinai 9-0 while Pablo got the better of Trajan Nader 9-4.

In the ladies singles, Jeannette Cayea defeated Emam Khan 6-1, 6-1 to reach the quarterfinals.

Deepthika Gooneratne and Hanna Van der Lande also advanced

after defeating Niloufar Sanei 6-1, 6-0 and Hinke Cotsburg 6-1, 6-1 respectively.

Joining them in the last eight stage are Wafa Hudson and Shanaz Patel.

In the men’s A singles, Khalid Ikram upset Bruno Van Begin 6-2,

7-5 for a place in the quarterfinal.

Sajid Khan, Abdullah al Yaahyaei, Drar Anter and Andries Echeverri also moved into the quarterfinals.

Sajid overcame Nashat Helal 3-6, 6-4, 10-4, Abdullah defeated Younis al Namani 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), Drar was a 6-1, 4-6, 10-4 winner over Krish Vallancey and Andries won 7-6, 6-1 against Ishan Dharamsey.

Daniel Nordberg also advanced with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Mohamed al Falahi.

In the men’s B singles, Younis al Namani moved into the semifinals after overcoming Khalid Tabook in a 7-5, 6-3 victory. In the last four stage, he will face Abbas Sanie, who advanced after receiving a walkover from his opponent Vincenzo Ruffino.

In the veterans singles, Robin Kleinveldt eased into the semifinals with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Mauro Costa.

Earlier, Mauro Costa reached the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Bishara Qafiti while Robin Kleinveldt defeated Samuel El Haddad 6-0, 6-1.

Bruno Van Begin reached last eight after his opponent Abbas Sanie retired with the former winning the first set 6-0. Bruno will now face Majeed al Asfoor, a 6-2, 6-2 winner over Mohammed Resa.

C

SECTION

LIFE & STYLE

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

Disney’s latest movie is an anime-inspired Marvel adaptation set in the fictional San Fransokyo, a mash-up of San Francisco and Tokyo

S

ometimes it seems as if every studio in Hollywood is making superhero movies. If their recently announced schedules are to be believed, then Marvel, Warner Bros, Sony and Fox will collectively release more than 20 such blockbusters before the end of the decade. But the latest player in the superhero game nonetheless comes as a surprise: Disney Animation’s latest feature, Big Hero 6, out in the US this week and the UK early next year, is based on a comic book.

The new film marks the first creative collaboration between the companies that created Mickey Mouse and the Hulk, though they have been under the same corporate umbrella since 2009, when Disney acquired Marvel Studios for approximately $4 billion — which turned out to be an exceedingly wise investment.

Big Hero 6 was inspired by an obscure Marvel title about a team of Japanese superheroes, but differs so much from the source material that it barely qualifies as an adaptation. As screenwriter Robert Baird explains: “It’s inspired by the comic book, but we made it our own. We wanted to make this a Disney superhero movie, so we hope that it’s uniquely that. We think there’s no other studio that could have put out this particular superhero movie.”

The film centres on the relationship between Hiro, a gifted teenage inventor, and Baymax, a companion robot created by Hiro’s older brother. When a masked villain terrorises their city, the two band together with four more unlikely young heroes to form the six-strong crime-fighting team of the title. Meanwhile, a touching friendship grows between the boy and his robot sidekick. It has the action of a Marvel movie, but with the heart and humour of a potential Disney classic. For Don Hall, the film’s director, the news that Disney had acquired Marvel was thrilling. A lifelong reader of comic books, at the time he was working on the studio’s 2011 version of Winnie the Pooh. But he quickly started researching Marvel’s rich back catalogue. “On my lunch hours during Winnie the Pooh I made a list of what Marvel comics I’d liked as a kid,” Hall says.

“I supplemented that list by going online, where I found something like 5,000 Marvel characters.

That’s how I came across Big Hero 6. It’s a title that shows up here and there throughout the Marvel universe. But there were only ever 13 issues total, which is very few. I thought the title was bitchin’, and it was a Japanese superhero team.

It struck me as being a love letter to Japanese pop culture.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Disney’s ranks are filled with fanboys, men and women who grew up loving comic books. Hall says that as word got around that he was developing an animated feature based on a Marvel title, staffers he had never met would approach him and demand to work on the film.

His co-director, Chris Williams, says: “People often get into animation because they spent a lot of their childhood in their bedrooms writing stories, drawing, watching

It’s inspired by the comic book, but we made it our own. We wanted to make this a Disney superhero movie, so we hope that it’s uniquely that Robert Baird Screenwriter

science-fiction movies and the rest of it. So when Don started talking about doing a superhero movie with Japanese anime influences, that struck a chord with a lot of the artists here.”

Big Hero 6 takes place in the fictional city of San Fransokyo, a mash-up of San Francisco and Tokyo, where the Golden Gate Bridge has been modified to incorporate the shapes of a torii, or traditional Japanese gateway. Semi-futuristic and smothered in neon, San Fransokyo resembles a more appealing version of the dystopian, Asianinflected Los Angeles of Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner.

Disney’s film is a hybrid of genres and styles. The scene in which Baymax first flies through the city wearing a red, armoured suit built for him by Hiro carries loud echoes of a similar sequence from the original Iron Man (2008), the movie that launched Marvel Studios and unleashed the current spate of superhero blockbusters.

The film-makers also harbour a shared affection for the work of the legendary Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki. No coincidence, then, that in silhouette Hiro and Baymax could almost be mistaken for Satsuki and Totoro, the young girl and kindly forest spirit of Miyazaki’s My Neighbour Totoro (1988). “There’s something very powerful and intimate about the relationship between Satsuki and Totoro, and we were influenced by that,” Williams says. “Totoro and Baymax have similar traits — they’re quiet, girthy, but with a sense of goodness, selflessness and warmth.”

Williams, who was born in 1971, suggests he and Hall are from

the first generation of Americans exposed to contemporary Japanese culture. “My first exposure to anime as a kid was Battle of the Planets, the redubbed version of a popular Japanese animated series (Science Ninja Team Gatchaman), he says. “Later, we would pass around rare video cassettes of anime movies like Akira, so we would get these little windows onto what was happening in Japanese pop culture.”

The expected success of Big Hero 6, which has so far received nothing but rave reviews in the US, is further proof that Disney Animation has undergone a renaissance led by its current chief creative officer, John Lasseter. From the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s, the studio lost ground creatively and at the box office to rivals Pixar and Dreamworks. But in 2006 Lasseter, a former Disney animator who had gone on to direct Toy Story and run Pixar, returned to stage a turnaround.

With Ed Catmull, president of Disney Animation, Lasseter established a “story trust” of directors who regularly consult on each other’s projects, a system that had yielded unarguable results at Pixar.

He re-launched the studio’s short film scheme to generate innovation and encourage young directors. He even altered the interior design, tearing out several offices at the Disney HQ to create a leisure area with a coffee bar known as the Caffeine Patch, where people on breaks are encouraged to exchange ideas.

Big Hero 6 producer Roy Conli has been at Disney for more than 20 years, and witnessed the studio in its pomp around the time of The Lion King (1994), followed by that long, steady decline. “It became very executive-driven,” Conli explains.

“What John brought back to the studio was making it film-makerdriven. We had always looked at Pixar and said, ‘Son of a gun, those guys are good!’ But where Jon and Ed were brilliant was that they didn’t try to make us into another Pixar. Jon had been here before Pixar, and he understood what this place was and what he wanted it to be.”

The results? A string of hits, including 2010’s Tangled, a modern version of Rapunzel; Wreck-It Ralph (2012), a smart, loveable take on the world of videogames; and last year’s fairy-tale mega-hit, Frozen. Next on Disney Animation’s slate is Zootopia, a crime caper set in a city populated by animals, followed by Moana, the story of a South Pacific teenager who sets sail across the ocean in search of a mythical island. Both are scheduled for release in 2016.

Meanwhile, Disney’s big tent now covers not only Disney Animation, Pixar and Marvel, but Lucasfilm, which the studio acquired in 2012 for another $4 billion. Is there any chance of Disney Animation tackling a Star Wars story next? “It’ll come down to a director having an idea,” Conli says. “John believes that if the film-makers have a great idea for a sequel, we’ll do it. And if someone came up with a really good Star Wars idea, they could run that by him, too.”

- Tim Walker/The Independent

C8

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

EXTRA

Participantss come from alll walks of life, including those hoping to correct thee awkward habits habitts they picked up as children, child dren, partly spurred spurrred on by the rising popularity populaarity of Japanese-style Japanesee-style meals both at home and abroad. a One night at th the September, he end of Septem mber, mber a chopsticks seminar was held att an office buildingg in central Tokyo.

“Place one chopstick between the thumb and index finthu ger, and place your middle finger under tthe top chopstick,” instructed lecturer Kumiko Nanbu to the stern-faced attends ees. Nanbu holds seminars in various places plac in cooperation with a chopstick maker.

One of the participants, a 27-year-old female company employee c from Koshigaya, admitted: “I’m not very good with w chopsticks so I always order Western food and eat with a fork fork. I’d like to elegantly eat washoku (Japanese cuisine) using chopsticks.” cho In a similar vein, a 33-year-old man and compa company employee from Kawasaki revealed he decided to atten attend the seminar because “I feel ashamed I can’t use chopsticks chops properly properly whenever I have business lunches or dinners.” dinn Washoku was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cult Cultural Heritage list in December last year.

With increasing popularity overseas, washoku has been nutritional balbeen re-evaluated in Japan p forr its good g nutritiona al bal ance ance and beautiful appearance. “Since “ washoku is attracting atttracting attention, attention, people are becoming more conscious about abo out the way they they hold their chopsticks,” Nanbu Nanb bu said.

Indeed, chopsticks seem to o be a hot topic. N Nihombo, a Tokyobased based chopsticks specialityy store, held a chopsticks chop psticks lesson targeting geting adults this summerr in cooperation with with a restaurant — the the event was so popularr that some people were placed on a waiting waiting list. Visitors can caan make appointments appointmeents there to have ffree ree chopstick-holdingg lessons.

University J. F. Oberlin Univ versity in Machida, Machidaa, western Tokyo, holds h olds annual open n lectures on how to t use chopsticks.

Att Loft, a chain everyday A n store offering eve eryday commodipractice tties ies headquartered headquarrtered in Tokyo, pra actice chopsticks with indented inden nted grips are selling sellin well. The store says they’re ey’re popular with people in their 20s to 40s, with customers frequently saying things like, “I’m hoping to correct the unggainly ainly way I use chopsticks as I’m going to

BEHOLD, THE MIGHTY CHOPSTICKS An increasing number of seminars are being held in Japan to teach adults how to properly hold chopsticks, leading to a rise in sales of specially designed chopsticks to help individuals do just that

meet my future parents-in-law” and “I want to teach my friends overseas how to use chopsticks.”

Maebashi-based chopsticks speciality store Hashikyu sells corrective chopsticks for adults via mail order, and says they sell about 500 pairs every year year.

A Cabinet Office survey in 2009 showed that only 54 per cent of 1,820 respondents aged 18 and older knew how to properly hold their chopsticks.

A member of the Japan Hashi Culture Association, a Tokyobased private organization that hosts Hashi Kentei, a test to examine people’s knowledge about chopsticks, said, “Since Western food that doesn’t require chopsticks has prevailed in Japan, adults who are unable to hold chopsticks properly have increased.”

Kazuko Okuda, a professor emeritus at Konan Women’s University and author of Hashi no Saho (Chopsticks manners), says people “who hold chopsticks properly can eat elegantly because their movement when they pick up and hold food is smooth. It’s never too late, especially for adults, so I hope they (those that cannot use chopsticks properly) learn how to use them correctly.” The proper way to handle chopsticks: Hyozaemon, a long-established chopsticks maker chopin Obama, Fukui Prefecture, tells us how to hold chop sticks properly.

Hold chopsticks about two-thirds from the end. The upper chopstick should be held by grasping it between the thumb and index finger, and support the chopstick underneath using the middle finger. The lower chopstick should be held in place between the base of the thumb and the index finger and pinky. The middle finger should rest between the upper and lower chopsticks.

When using chopsticks, only the upper chopstick should be moved. Imagine moving the chopstick byy pushing it up with the middle finger and pulling it down with the index finger.

Some adults struggle to learn how to hold chopsticks because of bad habits picked up from childhood. Some may manage to hold chopsticks properly yet still have difficulty using them.

A company official suggests short practice sessions during casual meals at home. - Nao Yako/The Washington Post

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

C9

ENTERTAINMENT CINEMA SCHEDULE

BAHJA CINEMA 11:00 am, 3:30 pm, 9:30 pm & 11:45 pm Gold Class: 11:30 am, 5:45 pm & 11:00 pm The Signal (2D) (Sci-Fi/Thr) (PG12) Cast: Brenton Thwaites, Beau Knapp 1:30 pm & 9:45 pm Gold Class: 3:45 pm 71 (2D) (Action/Thriller) (15+) Cast: Jack Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connell, Sam Reid 5:45 pm Pocket Listing (2D) (Act/Com) (15+) Cast: Rob Lowe, Burt Reynolds 11:30 am & 7:45 pm Gold Class: 2:00 pm Happy Ending (Hindi) (2D)(Com) Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Ileana, 7:00 pm Gold Class: 8:15 pm The Babadook (2D)(Hor/Thr) (15+) Cast: Essie Davis, Daniel Henshall 1:15 pm & 11:45 pm Big Hero 6 (3D) (Anim/Com) (PG) Cast: Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit 3:00 pm

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (2D) (Adventure | Sci Fi) (PG12) Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth 2:15, 4:30, 6:45, 9:15, 11:45 pm The Signal (2D) (Sci-Fi | Thr) (PG12) Cast: Brenton Thwaites, Beau Knapp 3:00, 4:45, 11:45 pm The Babadook (2D) ( Horror) (15+) Cast: Essie Davis, Daniel Henshall 2:45, 6:45, 11:30 pm Happy Ending (2D) (Com |Rom) (12+) Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Ileana, Kalki Koechlin 8:45 pm Warda (2D) (Horror| Thri) (12+) Cast: Somaya El Alfy, Farouk Hashem, Samira Magroun 8:30 pm Pocket Listing (2D) (Act | Com) (15+) Cast: Rob Lowe, Burt Reynolds 5:00, 10:00 pm Dumb & Dumber to (2D) (Com) (PG12) Cast: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels 6:45 pm

SCREEN 1 Happy Ending (Comedy) (12+ ) Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Lieana, Kalki Koechlin 3.30, 6.30, 9.30pm SCREEN 2

Dumb And Dumber (2D) (Com) Cast: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels 5:00 pm; (PG12) The Hunger Games-Mockingjay Part 1 (2D) (Adv/Sci-Fi) (PG12) Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth

Kil Dil (Act |Rom | Drama) (12+ ) Cast: Ranbeer Singh, Govinda, Zafar Ali, Prineeti Chopra 3.45, 6.45, 9.45 pm

SCREEN 3

The Babadook â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2D (15+) ( Horror ) Cast: Essie Davis, Daniel Henshall 2:45, 6:15, 11:30 pm Catch Hell â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2D (12+) (Drama) Cast: Ryan Phillippe, Tig Notaro 4:30 pm

Happy New Year ( Action |Romance | Drama) (PG 12 ) Cast: Shahrukh Khan , Abhishek Bachchan, Deepika Padukone 3.30, 6.45, 10.00 pm

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2D (PG12) (Adv| Sci-Fi) Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemswort 3:00, 5:15, 7:15, 9:30, 11:45 pm The Signal â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2D (PG 12) (Sci-Fi ) Cast: Brenton Thwaites, Olivia Cooke 5:15, 8:00, 11:45 pm Pocket Listing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2D (15+) (Act | Com) Cast: Rob Lowe, Burt Reynolds, Noel Gugliemi 3:30, 10:00, 11:30 pm Happy Ending â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2D (12+) (Com) Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Ileana, Kalki Koechlin 7:30 pm 71 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2D (15+) (Act | Drama | Thriller) Cast: Jack Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connell, Sam Reid 3:45, 5:45, 9:45 pm Warda â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2D (12+) (Horror | Thriller) Cast: Somaya El Alfy, Farouk Hashem, Samira Magroun 7:30 pm Vanmam â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2D (T) (12+) (Action) Cast: Vijay Sethupathi, Kreshna, Sunaina, Anjali Rao, Madhu Sudhan Rao 9:00 pm

71 (Action | Drama | Thriller) (15+) Cast: Jack Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connell, Sam Reid 3:00, 5:15, 8:00 pm The Hunger Game: Mockingjay Part 1 (Adventure | Sci-Fi) (PG12) Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth 3:00, 4:45, 7:00, 9:30, 11:45 pm Happy Ending (Com | Rom) (12+) Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Ileana, Kalki Koechlin 7:00, 9:15 pm Babadook (Drama | Horror) (15+) Cast: Essie Davis, Daniel Henshall 3:00, 6:15, 10:00, 11:45 pm Catch Hell (Drama | Thriller) (12+) Cast: Ryan Phillippe, Tig Notaro, James DuMont 4:30, 11:45 pm

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (Adventure | Sci-Fi) (PG12) Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth 7:00, 09:15, 11:30 pm The Babadook (Drama| Horror) (15+)

Cast: Essie Davis, Daniel Henshall 5:30, 9:15 pm Happy Ending (Hindi) (Com) (12+) Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Ileana, Kalki Koechlin 11:00 pm Catch Hell (Drama | Thriller) (12+) Cast: Ryan Phillippe, Tig Notaro 5:00 pm 71 (Act | Drama | Thriller) (15+) Cast: Jack Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connell, Sam Reid 7:15 pm

The Signal (2D/PG12) (Sc-Fi) 1:00pm, 7:00pm, 11:45pm The Hunger Games: Mockingjay â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Part 1 (2D/12+)(Action/Sc-Fi) 2:45, 5:00, 9:00, 11:30pm â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;71 (2D/15+) (Act/Drama/Thriller) 12:30pm, 5:00pm Catch Hell (12+) (Drama/Thriller) Cast: Ryan Phillippe, Tig Notaro 12:30pm Pocket Listing (2D/15+) (Act/Com) 4:15pm, 10:00pm The Babadook (2D/15+) (Dra/Horror) Cast: Essie Davis, Daniel Henshall, Noah Wisema 2:30, 10:00, 11:45pm Happy Ending (2D/12+) (Com/Rom) Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Ileana, Kalki Koechlin 2:30, 7:15pm Warda (2D/12+) (Horror/Thriller) Cast: Somaya El Alfy, Farouk Hashem 6:00pm Vanmam (2D/TBC) (Action) Cast: Vijay Sethupathi, Kreshna 7:30pm

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (Adv | Sci-Fi) Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth 1.00, 3.15, 7.30, 9.45 & 11.55 pm; (PG12) Dumb and Dumber To (Comedy) Cast: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels 5:30 pm CP No: 2338 (PG12) The Babadook (Horror ) Cast: Essie Davis, Daniel Henshall, Tim Purcell 6.00, 10.00 & 11.55 pm CP No: 2400 (15+) Catch Hell (Thriller) Cast: Ryan Phillippe, Tig Notaro, James DuMont 2.00, 4.00, & 8.00 pm CP No: 2401 (12+)

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

STARS CINEMA Film information 24791641 / 24786776 Vellimoonga (Mal) (Drama/Com) Cast: Biju Menon and Asif Ali 3:30, 6:15 & 9:30pm at Cinema Main Varsham (Mal) (Com/Drama) Cast: Mammootty, Asha Sarath 3:00, 6:30 & 9:30 pm at Cinema 2 Happy New Year (Act |Rom) (PG 12 ) Cast: Shahrukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Deepika Padukone 3:45 , 6:45 & 9:45pm at Cinema 3 Vanmham (Tamil/Drama) Cast:Vijay Sethipathi & Sunaina 3:45, 6:45 & 9:45pm at Cinema 4 NEXT CHANGE: Itihasa(Mal) Kaaviya Thalavan (Tamil)

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

ACES ON BRIDGE

SUDOKU

Should he pause or play in tempo?

HOW TO PLAY Fill the empty cells with the numbers 1 to 9, so that each number appears once in each row, column and area. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Seven Galaxies

MARMADUKE

CROSSWORD

B I G NAT E

1 5 9 12 13 14 15 16 18 20 21 22 23 26 30 31 32 33 36 38 39 40 43 47

Did the crawl Pro votes Harvest moon mo.

Galileoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s town Far-ďŹ&#x201A;ung Slime â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;&#x201D; â&#x20AC;&#x201D;, old chapâ&#x20AC;?

GunďŹ ght site (2 wds.)

Male relatives Exercise, as power Mag. staffers Conducted Gauzy Peak performer?

Incan treasure Cause a blister Unreturnable serve Hot breakfast Pulpits Sonnet cousin Cobbler Shrink from Bubbly drink (2 wds.)

Lizards and

49 50 51 52 53 54 55

turtles Yawn-provoking Kimono tie Takes a good look Chocolate cookie Felt boot Hockey feint It once was wild

DOWN 1 Laundry cycle 2 Advisable 3 Pronto!

4 Havoc 5 Declares openly 6 Talks idly 7 PC key 8 Stashed the bags 9 Hideous monster 10 Mine output 11 Divulged 17 Carnival feature 19 Rival to Ben & Jerry 22 Slow pitch 23 Rockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Fighters 24 Novelist â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Levin 25 Building spot 26 Mongkut portrayer

27 Chemistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hangout 28 Kind of system 29 Thing, in law 31 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Norma â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;?

34 Castle defence 35 Swirled around 36 Relief 37 WildďŹ&#x201A;ower habitat

39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 48

Oater extras Send by parachute Ms. McEntire Cast-ofthousands movie Pursue Full-strength Corrida shouts Scheme Caustic solution

Answer to previous puzzle

ACROSS

AYAANA MASUD

November 25, 2013

Previous puzzle Solution

JAMES Truslow Adams, a writer and historian who died in 1949, said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are obviously two educations. One should teach us how to make a living and the other how to live.â&#x20AC;?

That is true â&#x20AC;&#x201D; unless one inherits so much money that one does not need to work.

Imagine that you are on defense at the bridge table. Declarer leads a card from the dummy, and you are next to play with a useful holding in that suit. Obviously there will be occasions when you must play low smoothly and others when you can afford to pause to work out the best defence. But knowing which way to turn is often difficult.

In todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deal, South pushes into six hearts. West leads the club 10.

South takes the trick with his ace, plays a spade to dummyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ace (West follows suit with the eight), and calls for the heart nine. Should East play low smoothly or win with his ace? (Putting in the queen cannot be correct.) â&#x20AC;&#x153;Second hand lowâ&#x20AC;? is right much more often than not. But here, if East does immediately follow suit with his heart ďŹ ve, South will probably also play low, the percentage play for only one heart loser. Then he will lose only one trump trick and make his slam.

East should notice that declarer cannot get back to the dummy to play hearts again. East has the spade king and diamond queen, and if South can play three rounds of clubs, East can overruff the dummy on the third round. So taking the ďŹ rst heart trick guarantees defeating the contract. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; By Phillip Alder

WITH LOVE

BORN LOSER

Send us a colour photograph of the child (below 16 years) whose birthday you are celebrating, along with his/her full name, date of birth, address, telephone number and parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;/your name to Times of Oman, With Love, PO Box 770, PC 112, Ruwi or through e-mail to extra@timesofoman.com

KIDSPOT

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

C10

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

PRAYER TIMINGS

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

BORN today, you seem to have everything going for you. Like many Sagittarius natives, you are likely to enjoy more than one lengthy lucky streak in your life — in your case, these can actually be life-defining.

You are upstanding, straightforward, loyal and stalwart; you do not give up on a project — or a person — simply because things get difficult. You are certain to be noticed for all that is good in your nature, but those who know you best may be able to point to certain aspects of your character that are not quite as admirable, such as your temper or your ability to overlook an obvious truth because you have made up your mind that the opposite is indeed the case.

Yes, you can be stubborn, and this stubbornness can bring you hardship, but it can also make it possible for you to make your dreams come true. You’re not the kind to abandon an idea, project, journey or relationship merely because it is more convenient to do so. Once you decide on a thing, it is, for you, a fait accompli.

Also born on this date are: Christina Applegate, actress; Amy Grant, singer; Carry Nation, activist; John F. Kennedy Jr., publisher; Joe DiMaggio, baseball player; Ricardo Montalban, actor; John Larroquette, actor; Karl F. Benz, auto maker.

W E AT H E R

M

OMAN

Max

WORLD

Max 10 Min 2

Max 26 Min 11

Max 27 Min 22 Max 9 Min 7

Max 28 Min 18

Max -3 Min -8

Max 31 Min 17

Max 31 Min 18

Max 31 Min 15

Max 29 Min 21

Max 32 Min 21

[[NOV. 22-DEC. 21] Max 30 Min 20

Max 28 Min 14

—www.met.gov.om

Max 30 Min 25 Max 23 Min 17

Min

GULF Abu Dhabi Doha Dubai Kuwait Manama Riyadh

32 29 32 24 27 27

22 24 21 12 22 18

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

13 20 9 6 13 19 29 8 26 9 27 31 16 12 34 31 16 2

8 8 3 3 1 13 24 2 20 7 13 23 2 9 25 25 10 -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 N AT I O N A L T R A N S P O R T C O M PA N Y S A O C ) * S U B J E C T T O C H A N G E

[DEC. 22-JAN 19] Once you get started, you’ll find that you pass all the required markers and signposts more quickly than expected. This is a breeze!

AQUARIUS [JAN. 20-FEB. 18] You’re eager to get away from what you have to do and dive into something you want to do with a friend or loved one.

PISCES [Feb. 19-March 20] You may be anticipating something in a negative light, but once it is upon you, you’re likely to find it to be quite enjoyable.

ARIES [March 21-APRIL 19] You’ll be in hot pursuit of something that you have set your sights on quite some time ago, but now it’s closer than ever.

TAURUS [APRIL 20-MAY 20] You’ll have the chance to share your opinions, but more than that, you’ll also be able to discover something unexpected about yourself.

GEMINI [MAY 21-JUNE 20] You’re allowing someone else to do what you would never consider doing yourself. Is this really what you wanted? Make adjustments.

CANCER [JUNE 21-JULY 22] You may derive more benefit out of disagreement than you usually do out of agreement and concord. The work is hard, but worth it.

LEO [JULY 23-AUG. 22] A career choice comes upon you, but you may feel as though you cannot be firm or certain until you get another’s immediate input.

VIRGO [AUG. 23-SEPT. 22] The same old thing may not be very good for you. While it may be hard to spot, a newer, healthier option is available.

LIBRA L [[SEPT. [S S 23-OCT. 22] You may find yourself giving up on a plan that you have formulated over quite some time. It’s only because you’ve gotten frustrated.

SCORPIO S [[OCT. 23-NOV. 21] Yes, it’s that time again — you mustn’t close your eyes to what you must do. Certain new opportunities are likely to arise by day’s end.

Sunset Sunrise (Tomorrow) High tide Low tide

11:22pm 4:34pm

5.20pm 6.28am 10:26am 5:10am

governorate with maximum wave height of 2.0 metres during night and slight over most of Oman coasts with maximum wave height of 1.25 metres.

HORIZONTAL VISIBILITY: Good over most of the Sultanate becoming poor during fog formation and rain.

THE NEXT 48 HOURS OUTLOOK: Mainly clear skies over most of the Sultanate with chance of cloud development over Al-Hajar mountains. Chance of cloud development and rain over Musandam governorate. Chances of late night to early morning low level clouds over most of the coast.

Max 27 Min 21

CAPRICORN

11.59am 3.42pm 5.25pm 6.39pm 5.09am

AIRLINES

ainly clear skies over the Sultanate with chances of clouds development over Al-Hajar mountains and Musandam governorate towards afternoon may give isolated rain. Chance of late night to early morning low level clouds along most of the coastal areas of the Sultanate.

EXPECTED WIND: The wind will be northerly to northeasterly light to moderate during day becoming variable light at night over the coastal area of Oman Sea and southerly to southeasterly light to moderate over rest of the Sultanate.

SEA STATE: Moderate along the coastal area of Musandam

SAGITTARIUS S You can be part of a big surprise — one that does more than surprise, but benefits another in a way that nothing else can.

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

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

TO MUSCAT (RUWI) Operating Days Daily Daily Daily

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

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

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

20:50

Daily

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

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

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

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

10:20 12:30

TO SUR (Route 55) 07:30 Sur 14:30 Sur TO FAHUD - YIBAL (Route 62) 06:30 Fahud 06:30 Yibal

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

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

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

Daily Daily

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

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

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

10:45 19:00

Daily Daily

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

Daily

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

Daily

16:50

SALALAH TO DUBAI (Route 102) 15:00 Dubai 07:00 TO DUBAI (Route 201) 06:00 Sohar 06:00 Dubai 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Dubai 15:00 Sohar 15:00 Dubai

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

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

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

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

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

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

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

LISTINGS

PHARMACIES Round the clock Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi: 24783334; Appolo Medical Centre, Hamriya: 24782666; Muscat Pharmacy, Ruwi: 24702542, Salalah: 23291635; Atlas Pharmacy, Ghubra: 24503585; Ruwi 24811715 Muscat Region Apollo, Al Hamriya. Tel: 24787766 Muscat, A Seeb Market. Tel: 24421691 Muscat, Al Khuwair. Tel: 24485740 Muscat, Al Hail South. Tel: 24537080 Dhofar Region Muscat, Al Nahdha Road, Salalah.

Tel: 23291635 HOSPITALS Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre: 24485052 Atlas Hospital: Ruwi: 24811743/ Ghubra: 24504000 Al Musafir Specialised Medical Clinic: 24706453 Hatat Polyclinic LLC, Ruwi: 24563641, Azaiba: 24499269, Sohar: 2683006 Al Raffah Hospital: 24618900/1/2 Al Massaraat Clinic & Laboratory: 24566435 Al Makook Medical Coordinance Centre: 24499434 Apollo Medical Centre, Hamriya: 24787766, 24787780 Capital Polyclinic: 24707549 Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi: 24799760/1/2 Capital Clinic, Seeb: 24420740 Ceregem National Raak: 24485633 Dr Harub’s Clinic: 24563217 Elixir Health Centre: 24565802 Emirates Medical Centre: 24604540 1st Chiropractic Centre: 24472274 Hamdan Hospital: 23212340 International Medical Centre LLC: 24794501/2/3/4/5 Kims Oman Hospital: 24760100

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

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

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

TUESDAY FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

WY682 WY406 WY676 WY648 WY816 WY824 WY916 4H583 NL768 TK774 PK281 PK225 QR1132 ET624 EK866 EY384 GF560 FZ041 WY902 WY638 WY658 WY686 WY668 WY644 WY692 WY674 WY602 WY202 WY432 WY102 WY342 FZ043 G9114 WY236 WY226 WY242 EK862 WY346 WY252 QR8550 QR1128 EY382 9W530 WY3922 WY904 WY822 G9841 IX337 FZ037 WY314 WY268 WY904 WY3302 PK191 BG023 WY906 WY606 WY326 WY918 IX817 KU677 WY656 WY632 FZ045 WY3304 WY274 WY216 WY204 WY292 WY610 WY246 WY284 WY232 QR1126 WY664 EK864 GF564 SV534 G9116 WY254 RG125 WY144 TG507 FZ047 WY614 WY152 WY124 WY624 AI973 WY134 6.00E+81 WY914 WY414 9W534 AI907 QR1134 UL205 BA073 GF566 EY388 WY908 AI985 WY662 LX242 9W540 WY654 LH618 WY612 WY116 WY696 WY928 WY636 WY717 WY910

WEDNESDAY ETA

FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

RIYADH 0005 CAIRO 0005 JEDDAH 0005 KUWAIT 0010 BANGKOK 0015 KUALA LUMPUR 0055 SALALAH 0105 DACCA 0115 LAHORE 0130 ISTANBUL 0215 ISLAM ABBAD/SIALKOT 0225 LAHORE 0230 DOHA 0345 ADDIS ABABA 0350 DUBAI 0355 ABU DHABI 0405 BAHRAIN 0405 DUBAI 0415 SALALAH 0630 ABU DHABI 0650 BAHRAIN 0700 RIYADH 0700 DOHA 0710 KUWAIT 0715 DAMMAM 0725 JEDDAH 0730 DUBAI 0805 BOMBAY 0815 TEHRAN 0815 LONDON-HEATHROW 0820 LAHORE 0835 DUBAI 0850 SHARJAH 0915 HYDERABAD 0920 COCHIN 0930 DELHI 0935 DUBAI 0940 ISLAM ABBAD 0940 MADRAS 0940 DOHA 1000 DOHA 1010 ABU DHABI 1015 TRIVANDRUM 1035 DUQUM OMAN 1055 DUBAI 1110 KUALA LUMPUR 1115 RAS AL KHAIMA 1120 CALICUT 1155 DUBAI 1200 CHITTAGONG 1210 LUCKNOW 1210 SALALAH 1215 MUKHAIZNA 1230 GWADUR 1240 CHITTAGONG 1245 SALALAH 1325 DUBAI 1330 KARACHI 1355 KHASAB 1440 MANGALORE/ABU DHABI 1440 KUWAIT 1525 BAHRAIN 1530 ABU DHABI 1535 DUBAI 1555 MUKHAIZNA 1630 JAIPUR 1640 TRIVANDRUM 1705 BOMBAY 1710 CALICUT 1720 DUBAI 1730 DELHI 1730 BANGALORE 1740 HYDERABAD 1740 DOHA 1745 DOHA 1745 DUBAI 1800 BAHRAIN 1810 RIYADH 1900 SHARJAH 1915 MADRAS 1920 BATEEN AIRPORT OF AUH 1930 MALPENSA 1930 BANGKOK/KARACHI 1935 DUBAI 1945 DUBAI 2030 ZURICH 2110 MUNICH 2115 DUBAI 2125 DELHI 2125 PARIS 2130 BOMBAY 2130 SALALAH 2130 AMMAN 2135 COCHIN 2140 MADRAS 2200 DOHA 2210 COLOMBO 2225 LONDON-HEATHROW/ABU DHABI 2240 BAHRAIN 2240 ABU DHABI 2250 SALALAH 2255 AHMEDABAD/BOMBAY 2310 DOHA 2315 ZURICH/DUBAI 2320 BOMBAY 2325 BAHRAIN 2330 FRANKFURT/ABU DHABI 2330 DUBAI 2335 FRANKFURT 2345 DAMMAM 2350 SALALAH 2350 ABU DHABI 2350 ZANZIBAR/DARESSLAM 2355 SALALAH 2355

WY406 WY676 WY682 WY648 WY816 WY916 4H583 PK229 TK776 QR1132 EK866 GF560 EY384 FZ041 WY902 WY638 WY324 WY686 WY658 WY668 WY674 WY602 WY202 WY102 NL768 WY342 FZ043 G9114 WY236 WY226 WY242 EK862 WY212 WY252 IX443 QR1128 EY382 IX549 9W530 WY282 WY604 G9841 WY372 IX337 FZ037 WY384 WY384 WY332 WY268 WY332 PA450 WY904 WY3302 WY826 WY818 WY918 WY606 WY906 WY812 WY656 WY274 FZ045 WY204 WY434 WY292 WY822 WY3922 WY3304 WY610 WY246 WY232 WY284 QR1126 WY348 WY664 EK864 GF564 WY646 G9116 WY254 RG125 FZ047 WY914 WY614 AI977 KL441 WY624 WY312 AI973 6.00E+81 WY414 9W534 AI907 QR1134 UL205 GF566 BA073 EY388 WY908 AI985 WY662 LX242 9W540 LH618 WY654 WY612 WY928 WY636 WY696 WY910 WY717

CAIRO 0005 JEDDAH 0005 RIYADH 0005 KUWAIT 0010 BANGKOK 0015 SALALAH 0105 DACCA 0115 LAHORE 0215 ISTANBUL/BAHRAIN 0300 DOHA 0345 DUBAI 0355 BAHRAIN 0405 ABU DHABI 0405 DUBAI 0415 SALALAH 0630 ABU DHABI 0650 KARACHI 0700 RIYADH 0700 BAHRAIN 0700 DOHA 0710 JEDDAH 0730 DUBAI 0805 BOMBAY 0815 LONDON-HEATHROW 0820 LAHORE 0830 LAHORE 0835 DUBAI 0850 SHARJAH 0915 HYDERABAD 0920 COCHIN 0930 DELHI 0935 DUBAI 0940 TRIVANDRUM 0940 MADRAS 0940 COCHIN 1010 DOHA 1010 ABU DHABI 1015 TRIVANDRUM 1020 TRIVANDRUM 1035 BANGALORE 1100 DUBAI 1110 RAS AL KHAIMA 1120 COLOMBO 1140 CALICUT 1155 DUBAI 1200 MALE 1205 MALE 1205 KATHMANDU 1210 LUCKNOW 1210 KATHMANDU 1210 LAHORE 1215 SALALAH 1215 MUKHAIZNA 1230 KUALA LUMPUR 1230 BANGKOK 1235 KHASAB 1300 DUBAI 1330 SALALAH 1445 BANGKOK 1525 BAHRAIN 1530 JAIPUR 1530 DUBAI 1555 BOMBAY 1710 TEHRAN 1720 CALICUT 1720 KUALA LUMPUR 1720 DUQUM OMAN 1730 MUKHAIZNA 1730 DUBAI 1730 DELHI 1730 HYDERABAD 1740 BANGALORE 1740 DOHA 1745 ISLAM ABBAD 1745 DOHA 1745 DUBAI 1800 BAHRAIN 1810 KUWAIT 1900 SHARJAH 1915 MADRAS 1920 BATEEN AIRPORT OF AUH 1930 DUBAI 1945 SALALAH 1950 DUBAI 2030 BANGALORE/HYDERABAD 2105 AMSTERDAM/DOHA 2120 DUBAI 2125 CHITTAGONG 2125 DELHI 2125 BOMBAY 2130 AMMAN 2135 COCHIN 2140 MADRAS 2200 DOHA 2210 COLOMBO 2225 BAHRAIN 2240 LONDON-HEATHROW/ABU DHABI 2240 ABU DHABI 2250 SALALAH 2255 AHMEDABAD/BOMBAY 2310 DOHA 2315 ZURICH/DUBAI 2320 BOMBAY 2325 FRANKFURT/ABU DHABI 2330 BAHRAIN 2330 DUBAI 2335 SALALAH 2350 ABU DHABI 2350 DAMMAM 2350 SALALAH 2355 ZANZIBAR/DARESSLAM 2355

FLT NO

DEPARTURES TO

ETD

FLT NO

DEPARTURES TO

AI986 LX243 BA072

BOMBAY DUBAI/ZURICH ABU DHABI/LONDONHEATHROW BOMBAY AHMEDABAD ABU DHABI/FRANKFURT RIYADH MADRAS BOMBAY COCHIN HYDERABAD LAHORE ISLAM ABBAD DUBAI DELHI TEHRAN ZURICH KUWAIT ABU DHABI CHITTAGONG BAHRAIN MUNICH PARIS FRANKFURT DOHA MALPENSA LAHORE DAMMAM DACCA ISTANBUL SIALKOT LAHORE ADDIS ABABA DUBAI DUBAI DOHA ABU DHABI DUQUM OMAN BAHRAIN SALALAH MUKHAIZNA DUBAI TRIVANDRUM KARACHI SALALAH CALICUT JAIPUR DUBAI BANGALORE DELHI HYDERABAD SHARJAH BANGKOK DUBAI BOMBAY MADRAS ZANZIBAR/DARESSLAM DUBAI ABU DHABI BAHRAIN DOHA DUBAI WORLD CENTRE/DOHA COCHIN KHASAB KATHMANDU RAS AL KHAIMA ABU DHABI CALICUT MUKHAIZNA LONDON-HEATHROW GWADUR/TURBAT DOHA AMMAN SALALAH CHITTAGONG DUBAI DUBAI CAIRO MANGALORE ABU DHABI/KUWAIT JEDDAH DUBAI DUBAI SALALAH DUBAI SALALAH RIYADH DOHA BAHRAIN DOHA KUWAIT BAHRAIN DAMMAM DUBAI SALALAH RIYADH SHARJAH BATEEN AIRPORT OF AUH DUBAI ABU DHABI KARACHI/BANGKOK DUBAI SALALAH KUALA LUMPUR BANGKOK TRIVANDRUM BOMBAY MADRAS DELHI DOHA BAHRAIN COLOMBO JEDDAH SALALAH ABU DHABI

0005 0020

AI986 LX243 9W539 BA072 0025 LH619 WY685 WY211 WY251 WY201 WY811 WY225 WY235 WY601 WY821 WY341 WY241 WY281 WY637 WY657 WY323 WY371 WY667 WY383 4H584 PK230 TK777 WY267 EK867 FZ042 QR1133 EY385 GF561 WY603 WY903 WY273 WY3301 WY291 NL769 FZ044 WY231 WY245 WY917 G9115 WY815 WY203 WY905 WY605 WY253 WY347 WY311 WY717 EK863 EY383 WY433 IX554 WY655 IX442 QR1129 9W533 WY331 G9842 IX350 PA451 WY101 WY663 WY3303 WY413 WY413 WY645 WY645 WY3921 WY113 WY927 FZ048 WY609 WY121 WY405 WY913 WY675 FZ046 WY613 WY623 WY907 QR1127 WY681 GF565 WY647 WY661 WY695 WY653 EK865 WY909 G9117 RG126 WY611 WY635 FZ048 WY915 WY825 AI978 KL442 WY817 9W529 6.00E+82 AI908 AI974 QR1135 GF567 UL206 EY381 WY901 WY673

BOMBAY 0005 DUBAI/ZURICH 0020 BOMBAY 0025 ABU DHABI/LONDON-HEATHROW

9W539 SG062 LH619 WY685 WY251 WY201 WY225 WY235 WY341 WY345 WY601 WY241 WY431 WY151 WY643 WY637 WY313 WY657 WY123 WY133 WY115 WY667 WY143 NL769 WY691 4H584 TK775 PK282 PK230 ET625 EK867 FZ042 QR1133 EY385 WY3921 GF561 WY903 WY3301 WY603 WY215 WY325 WY905 WY291 WY273 FZ044 WY283 WY245 WY231 G9115 WY815 WY605 WY203 WY253 WY717 EK863 EY383 WY655 QR1129 QR8551 9W533 WY917 WY331 G9842 WY631 IX350 WY3303 WY101 PK192 WY663 WY413 WY927 BG024 FZ048 WY609 WY405 IX818 KU678 WY675 FZ046 WY613 WY913 WY623 WY907 WY681 QR1127 GF565 WY661 WY647 WY653 WY695 EK865 WY909 SV535 G9117 RG126 WY611 WY635 TG508 FZ048 WY915 WY825 WY817 9W529 6.00E+82 AI908 AI974 QR1135 GF567 UL206 WY673 WY901 EY381

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

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

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EXTRA

Unpaid make-up artists reveal the ugly side of Miss World pageant Make-up artists helping the models prepare for the stage will now go unpaid

T

he Miss World pageant has become mired in a union dispute after it was revealed that make-up artists helping the models prepare for the stage will go unpaid.

The entertainment union Bectu has stepped in after several artists complained about a recruitment email offering “credits” (their name being credited) and a goody bag to work at the event.

In an article titled “Is Miss World 2014 aware that unpaid labour is being recruited to the contest?”, the union’s communications officer Sharon Elliott said: “The sense of outrage from qualified make-up artists wanting to make a living is palpable.”

She added: “We congratulate the

make-up artists prepared to make a stand against exploitation and we invite many more in the creative sectors to stand with them.”

Bectu’s suggested day-rate for freelance make-up artists is set at between $312 and $469. One artist,

Mariam Jensen, said: “I think it’s disgusting, you wouldn’t ask a cameraman to work for free.”

But Colin Laphan, whose company ADCreativ won the contract to provide the make-up services, has hit back, saying it will provide inval-

PSYCHOLOGY

A psychiatrist argues his case on learning from his patients WHEN JULIA first appeared in my office, she was approaching her 35th birthday. She had resolved it would be her last. A hardworking surgeon at a nearby hospital, Julia endured a monastic, gruelling existence even in the best of times.

Then a deep depression struck.

Soon it had shut out all remnants of pleasure, robbing her nights of sleep and locking her features into a mask of anguish. She began to think about suicide. Finally, a colleague of hers insisted she seek help.

From the start of therapy, and despite her weariness, Julia mustered the determination to protest what she called the “rules of therapy” — especially the notion that I would not disclose personal information about myself during her treatment.

She’d manage a faint, defiant smile and rattle off interrogations: “Don’t you get bored listening to us mental patients?” “You’re holding your head in your hand — do you have a headache?” “Do you have children?

How many?”

She hadn’t learned this rule from me. She came to treatment under the assumption I would adhere to it. This was understandable; the caricature of the infuriating Freudian analyst, stroking his beard and deflecting the patient’s question with another question (“And how do you feel about that?”), pervades popular culture.

And in fact, the rule originated with Freud. In a 1912 paper, he advised doctors practicing psychoanalysis that the physician “should be opaque to his patients, and, like a mirror, show them nothing but what is shown to him.”

In psychoanalysis, there is a specific rationale for this rule. The theory holds that patients tend to re-enact with therapists the relationships they had with their parents. This is called transference. By paying careful attention to this unfolding drama — as it plays out, right there in the office — the therapist and patient can uncover and resolve childhood conflicts. If a therapist interjects information about herself, she clouds the mirror and compromises the process.

But I’m not a psychoanalyst. I’m a psychiatrist, a medical doctor

who treats mental illness with both medication and psychotherapy.

And Julia had a biological illness — major depressive disorder — that required in part a biological treatment. Freud’s dictum was not necessarily central to my work with her.Yet she doggedly tried to wrest confidences from me. Why?

The therapist Julia agreed to take antidepressant medication, which reduced her most immobilising symptoms. What was the origin of her melancholy? Unless we could better understand it, it would probably continue to predispose her to severe depressive episodes.

So we embarked on more intensive psychotherapy.

Here, Julia’s instincts about my willingness to talk about myself were partially correct. I’m not doctrinaire, but neither am I one to divulge much about my private life.

Even if you’re not a classical Freudian analyst, there are good reasons for a therapist to adopt a posture of neutrality. For one thing, patients need to be free to take the discussion anywhere, including uncomfortable or taboo territories.

If therapy were reciprocal, therapists might close off avenues of conversation that they themselves might want to avoid.

So I tended to be my usual “therapist self” with Julia — attentive, open and, I hoped, warm — yet neutral and withholding when it came to my own life. But the more I withheld from her, the harder she pressed me to open up. I Julia looked to the outside world like the very picture of competence. Her voice had a lovely composed timbre that seemed to be saying, “I’ll handle this.” And people routinely accepted this implicit offer. She was the solution to everyone’s problem.

But I quickly learned that behind this facade of proficiency was a fragile soul. During the most vulnerable developmental stages of Julia’s life, beginning in infancy, her mother had suffered from severe mental illness and a personality disorder that rendered her erratic and narcissistic. She was never completely present for Julia.

I may have been a slow student, but eventually I understood — I was the one who had to change. -Robin Weiss/ The New York Times News Service

uable exposure for those working on the event, adding: “We do things for credits all the time; it’s the norm.”

He denied accusations of exploitation. This year’s Miss World will be held at the ExCel Centre in London on 14 December, and organisers

claim that it could reach an audience of 2.2 billion people on television and the internet.

Mr Laphan put out an invitation looking for 30 volunteer make-up artists earlier this month.

Sent to well-known make-up artists including Daniel Sandler as well as recent graduates, it said: “There are 130 contestants all with equal billing! They all need star quality hair and make-up with quick changes through the programme.

There are also some build-up events that require cover.”

The email continued: “Everything is credits only. We are not receiving any fees for this. We are organising this for the credits. There will be goody bags.”

The invitation was shared among groups of make-up artists on social media, some of whom responded angrily about being offered no pay, and several brought the issue to Bectu.

One make-up artist, who declined to be named, said: “It’s just rude to ask professionals to work for nothing. Goody bags are not payment.”

But Laphan said the offer was oversubscribed and will include awardwinning make-up artists.

He added that he was shocked by

the response from his fellow professionals, saying that ADCreativ was receiving no money and all the make-up for the Olympic closing ceremony was also provided on a voluntary basis.

“I’ve chosen to pitch for it on the basis I would get exposure. Having Miss World on my CV is more important than the money.”

He said the issue was “nothing to do with Miss World.” The Independent was unable to contact the Miss World organisers by the time of going to press.

Miss World facts: Miss World is the oldest major international beauty pageant.

Launched in 1951 by Eric Morley as part of the Festival of Britain.

In 1970, feminists threw flour bombs during the live event at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

The longest reign was Kerstin Hakansson, one year and 108 days, and the shortest was Gabriella Brum who resigned after 18 hours.

Halle Berry, who would later win an Oscar, competed in 1986.

The UK has had four wins, behind India with five and Venezuela with six.

—Nick Clark/The Independent

C12

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

EXTRA B O L LY W O O D

‘Ungli’ not a typical Bollywood film: Emraan Hashmi ACTOR Emraan Hashmi says his forthcoming movie Ungli is not a typical Bollywood film, but he admits that some elements have been added to it to make it more mainstream. “It (Ungli) is not a typical Bollywood film,” the 35-year-old said in an interview. “(It is) A film having social relevance, along with other elements of society like corruption, where the common man is not able to raise his voice against corrupt powers and injustice happening to him and a gang, whose extreme measure is to fight injustice, comes to help him. I think this has rarely happened in our Bollywood films,” he added. Directed

by Rensil D’Silva, Ungli is a fun take on the angst of today’s youth and chronicles the story of five friends, who act as vigilantes against the corrupt powers and injustice.

I wish censorship was final authority: Karan Johar

Disney World: Love it or loathe it It has been observed that every Disney theme park that one visits — fulfills a need to feel superior

S

ome people loathe Disney World, and I understand why. The artificiality, all those people gnawing on turkey legs, the standing in line, that infernal “It’s a Small World” song looping and looping — I get it.

The opposite extreme was always more of a mystery. Some people love Disney theme parks so much that routine visits to Disneyland in California or the Magic Kingdom in Florida are simply not enough. Some people also make it a mission to visit Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland. And Epcot and Typhoon Lagoon and California Adventure. There are 13 Disney parks worldwide and the hardest of the hard-core Disneyphiles have visited them all.

What motivates men and women (usually traveling without children) to spend their time and money this way? It can’t just be that they really, really love Pirates of the Caribbean and the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

What kind of person, having already ridden Space Mountain a few dozen times in Florida, flies to Paris and spends an afternoon riding Space Mountain? Zip-aDee-Doo-Deranged.

Or so I thought. Confession — Having visited all 13 parks, I am now a full-fledged member of this obsessive Mickey Mouse Club.

It happened almost before I could help myself. All of a sudden, there I was munching on “milk tea”-flavoured popcorn at Tokyo DisneySea, a park with an extravagant nautical exploration premise, and pretending to understand the Mandarin-speaking Jungle Cruise skipper at Hong

Kong Disneyland. I even attempted an ill-advised whoosh down the 12-story Summit Plummet at Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park in Florida. (Tip: Tie the drawstring on your bathing suit tighter than I did.)

Like many people, I visited Disney parks as a boy. When I was in the fifth grade, I wrote a persnickety letter to Disneyland complaining that my pair of purple 3-D glasses at “Captain EO” had been missing a stem. Pout.

By 2007, when The New York Times hired me to professionally scrutinise the Walt Disney Co., I had not laid eyes on Cinderella’s Castle in about a decade. But assignments quickly took me inside Disney parks on both coasts, and I began to notice a rabid breed of visitor — people like Tony Spittell and his son, Andrew, who visited all six of Disney’s major North American parks in a single jetsetting day, or Roger Yamashita, a California engineer who had been to all 13 properties.

In 2012, two Disneyland annual pass holders made news by going to the Happiest Place on Earth every day in a row for 366 days. What would possess them to do that?

“Some probably really do just love the experience that Disney offers,” said Mark Duffett, a cultural studies professor at the University of Chester in England and author of the book “Understanding Fandom,” when I called to pick his brain. Duffett also noted that human beings, on a very basic level, like to collect things. Instead of compulsively searching for Hummel figurines or Honus Wagner baseball cards, “these people, like all travellers,

are collecting experiences,” he said. Still, there is a line between collecting and hoarding, and societal and behavioural factors seem to push some people to the extreme. One clinical psychologist I interviewed theorised that obsessive niche travel — visiting all the capitals of Europe or every wonder of the natural world or, yes, every Disney theme park — fulfills a need to feel superior.

Yamashita, 53, cited completion anxiety. “Once I had done California, Florida and Japan, I started to really want to finish my dance card,” he told me.

“It was like, ‘Well, I’ve come this far.” Yamashita, a gold member of D23, the official Disney fan club, added, “Disney is also very good at keeping you hooked.” Ah, yes.

Good old-fashioned marketing.

Nobody does it better than Disney. Attendance at the company’s 13 parks last year totaled 132.6 million, a 5 per cent increase from 2012, according to the Themed Entertainment Association.

I relate to Yamashita’s addictlike thinking - more, more, more — but my 13-park adventure was primarily rooted in reportorial curiosity. Disney haters have long criticized the company’s overseas parks as products of cultural imperialism — the evil Mickey Mousification of the globe. But Disney has aggressively dismissed that criticism as unfair and outdated.

“We made some mistakes early on, but we learned from them,” a senior Disney executive once said to me. “How can you judge us without seeing for yourself?”

So on a 2011 trip to Paris I persuaded my partner, Joe, to skip Sacré-Coeur and instead go to

Marne-la-Vallée, a suburb of Paris where two Disney parks now sprawl across former sugar beet fields. I wanted to see if Buzz Lightyear had really learned to blast off with a proper French accent.

The place certainly smelled French. We were slack-jawed upon entering the main park. To compete with the splendour of Paris, Disney spent lavishly to open the resort in 1992, and its ornate landscaping has only improved with age: Austrian black pines, endless rhododendrons, pathways that hug serpentine streams. Of all the Disney castles, the one here is the most extravagant. “Even I thought that was pretty cool,” a normally nonplused Joe said after a peek at an animatronic dragon residing in the dungeon.

There was a lot of familiar Disney iconography that wasn’t particularly adapted for Europe, from Frontierland to Main Street U.S.A. But there were also some wonderfully unique newer attractions, like Crush’s Coaster, an indoor-outdoor Finding Nemo -themed thrill ride with spinning cars. Another first-of-its-kind offering, Remy’s Totally Zany Adventure, themed after Pixar’s Paris-set Ratatouille, opened here in July. (Riders are “shrunk” to the size of rats and sent on a 3-D chase through the restaurant.)

At the end of a long trip to Japan last fall, I slipped in a day at the seaside Tokyo Disney Resort, which comprises two parks and a half-dozen hotels connected by a monorail. The excursion turned out to be a surprise highlight of our time in Tokyo. – Brooks Barnes/The New York Times News Services

FILM MAKER Karan Johar on Monday said the government (Indian) should help the movie industry by making censorship the final law — especially for times when some people stage protests even after a film has received the green signal from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for release. “I wish censorship was the final authority. I am fighting court cases that are ridiculous. I am still fighting a case for ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’. I wish there was a ruling finally and with the current governance being so proactive, I hope this is one of the things they should look into and say that censorship is the final law. “If it doesn’t happen, filmmakers like me will be the soft target,” Karan said during a session titled “An afternoon at Film Bazaar with Rajeev Masand” on the final day of Film Bazaar in Mumbai.

Anurag Kashyap admits to writing some bad scripts BE IT it scripts or dialogues, Anurag Kashyap has written for many directors like Ram Gopal Varma and Vikramaditya Motwane. But the filmmaker is not particularly proud of some of his works created for fellow directors. “I’ve made good movies, but I’ve written some bad films.

I won’t take their names as they are by some other filmmakers’ movies. But the ones the audience didn’t like are the ones I am talking about,” the “Gangs of Wasseypur” director said in a group interview in Mumbai on Monday. The filmmaker, who is set to release his directorial Bombay Velvet in 2015, says he needs to make a film every year. “I’ve to make a film every year. If my previous work is successful, it encourages me to experiment more. Every film gives you the freedom to do more and freedom has to be earned,” he said at the Film Bazaar’s session titled “Master Class: How and Why to maximise your film. Is there a formula?”

Pooja Bhatt does not mind judging a cookery show SHE CALLS herself a foodie and loves to cook for her loved ones in her free time.

Actress-filmmaker Pooja Bhatt says she’d love to judge a cookery show on the small screen as long as the quality of cookery shows improves in the country. She believes filming of food is an “art”, and says the desi idiot box lacks the quality that international cookery shows exude. -IANS

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T U E S D AY, N OV E M B E R 2 5, 2 0 1 4

DAILY GUIDE

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

FOR RENT

For rent apartments: An apartment in old Muscat at Oman Arab Bank’s building. 3 bedrooms + 3 bathrooms, dining room, living room and a kitchen. Air conditioned apartments. 2 bedrooms + 2 bathrooms, living room, dining room area and kitchen in an excellent location in Al Khuwair opposite the court of first instance. For further information call 97072976 A Building for rent: for workmen and companies at Al Wadi Al Kabir.

Contact 99388994 Flat for rent RO 80/-. Muttrah.

Contact 99542393 2 bedroom flat opposite Al Nahdha Hospital, 1 bedroom & studio flat at Wadi Kabir Sanaya.

Contact 93666944 Flat for rent Al Amerat Al Hajer, 2 bedrooms, 1 hall, 1 Majlis without A/C. Contact 99425184 Double & single bedroom flat near Wadi Kabir Lulu. Contact 99719471, 99639102 Flats 2 bedrooms hall in Mumtaz Area. Contact 98003444 Single furnished room in Ruwi.

Contact 24833609 Two flats in Hamriya new bldg with split A/C. contact 99639909

Luxury flats for rent in South Al Hail, 2 BHK RO 270/-.

Contact 93221474

Readymade office space for rent (110 & 130SM) fully or separate, with partition) in Bank Melli Iran Building, MBD area, Ruwi, Opposite center point. Contact 99011352

5 bedrooms villa with 2 halls, 4 bathrooms in Darsait behind Khimjis Mart. Contact 92584715, 24700120

One/two bedroom new flats at Bausher from owner directly.

Contact 92158031

Spacious 2 BR flat in MBD. Contact 99713489

5 bedrooms villa with 2 halls, 4 bathrooms in Darsait behind Khimjis Mart. Contact 24700120 / 92584715

For rent 2 bedrooms + hall + kitchen.

Location: South Mawaleh.

Contact 99870020 3 BHK flat in al Khuwair 25.

Contact 99792181

New flat in a new building at a prime location at Al Khuwair, 2 bedrooms and Majlis.

Contact 99109094

1 & 2 BHK flat in Wattaya.

Contact 99792181 Studio flat in Ruwi. Contact 99792181 1 BHK flat in Ruwi.

Contact 99792181 100 + 140 + 180 SQM office space for rent in Al Khuwair. Contact 99792181 (2)- Room bathroom kitchen near Kuwaiti Mosque, Wadi Kabir, RO 200. Contact 95094028 Exclusive offer for family on Visit Visa Fully furnished fully equipped flat for Rent on Al Hail north Main Road please contact 96609381 93199299.

Furnished single bed attached bath for executive bachelors RO. 150/- pm near ISG- Ghobrah. Contact - 95259322 Villa in Al Azaiba with area of 1200 m, contains from (2 halls + 2 living rooms +5 bedrooms with bathrooms+maids room+7 car parkings+garden) for RO 2300, 92161111 Apartments in Al Khuwair new area each apartment contains (2 bedrooms + living room) for RO 365.

Contact 93181111 Room in Al Ghobrah. RO 120/-.

Contact 99370328

Office space (125 SQM) located in prime area at 18 November street, Al Azaiba. Contact 99261522 Building in Ghala for rent with 24 apartments near Bank Muscat, 93181111 Villa in Bousher contains (5 bedrooms + living room + hall) for RO 900, 93161111.

1 BHK with A/C, Mumtaz area, RO 250. Contact 92144045 2 BHK Al Ghobrah without A/C RO 300/-. Contact 92144045 Flats, Amerat Souk. Contact 98026234 / 99647903 1 & 2 BHK Al Khuwair.

Contact 99024730

Stores in Industrial Ghala opposite Al Ghobrah garage with 550 m, RO 4 for each meter, 93161111

Room with attached bath available for Filipino. Al Khuwair 33 opposite 2 Hour Al Maya Supermarket. Contact: 97607198

2 rooms Majlis and kitchen in Al Khuwair 33. Price: RO 380/-.

Contact 96961306

7 Rooms villa at Al Azaiba, 18 November Road opposite Bank Muscat.

Contact 99224748, 99332297

2 BHK flat, brand new building Ghala, 100 SQM open space offices, Ghala, 40 SQM shop in Ghala, full furnished business Centre, small offices available in Ghala, 20 SQM, 25 SQM, 2 BHK in Ruwi, Mumtaz, Darsait, Wadi Al Kabir, Rex Road. #93782735 / 99208033 Studio Apartment Madinat Qaboos RO 200 including water & electricity.

3 BHK part villa Al Khuwair RO 500.

1 & 2 BHK Wattaya. #95178930 Villa in Al Azaiba contains (5 bedrooms + living room + hall) for RO 900 located near Al Fair Supermarket. 93161111 Luxury villa in al Azaiba inside a compound each villa contains (5 bedrooms living room dining room car parking) each villa RO 1200, 93161111 2 bedroom flat for rent at Mumtaz Area near Al Burj Hotel. Contact 99104418, 99345914, 99884924 2 BHK at Al Azaiba, Building No.5145 Way 4470. Contact 99224748, 99425665 1 & 2 BR flats in Amerat (New Building). 2 BR flats in Mabela (New Building, Near Faisal Bin Timor Mosque).

1 BR flat in Al Khuwair (Near Mars Hypermarket). Contact: - 96092332 / 99368876 /24480777. Email: - properties@rgoman.com

T U E S DAY, N O V E M B E R 2 5 , 2 0 1 4

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DAILY GUIDE

ACC. WANTED Urgently required 3 BK flat or villa at Wadi Al Kabir. # 99246503.

ACC. AVAILABLE Sharing accommodation for a family in Wadi Kabir. Contact 97167857

FOR RENT

Sharing accommodation for Executive Bachelor opposite Al Nahdha Hospital. Contact 98483739

AVAILABLE Established Restaurant for rent with sponsorship. #97628242 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

BUYING/SELLING Looking for purchase of a residential building with minimum 25 unoccupied flats in Ghala, Bousher, Azaiba and Ghobrah. Kindly contact 99261522 Household & office furniture and electronic items.# 99834373, 97102699 Looking for purchase of Used Portable Compressor (350 CFM, 7 Bar Pressure) powered with Diesel run Generator. Kindly Contact 99014686 or operation@khancogroup.com

FOR SALE WANTED FOR SALE 1 BHK flat in Wadi Kabir. RO 180/-.

Contact 99376454 1+2+3 BHK, Darsait, near ISM. Contact 99024730 1 BHK Ruwi. Contact 99024730

2 BHK, Wadi Kabir. #99024730

Industrial Land 3,600 SQM with all facilities near Khimji Workshop, Ghala. Contact 99349311

2 BHK, Al Khuwair. # 99024730

3 BHK flat Ghobrah close to ISG way – 4041, building – 4390.

Contact 99319880 Show room on the main road Saham center total area 450 m sq. Contact: 99366558 / 99334226 Flat near Oman House. Contact 92815855, 95181077 For rent two bedrooms hall kitchen, three bathrooms balcony, complete split units, brand new deluxe flats near Seeb flyover main road side.

Contact 97755586 Spacious room, separate bathroom, sharing kitchen at Wadi Kabir, shell pump rent RO 90/- & E/W RO 120/- per month for Muslim family.

Contact 97887620

2 BHK 7 flats in Mabela, Road No.2 for rent. Contact 99420591, 94354545, 99354340 2 BHK 2 flats at Muscat Hill for rent.

Contact 99420591, 94354545, 99354340 LABOUR CAMP Space for rent at YETI. # 99221683/92830110 Flat/rooms for rent in Mumtaz Area.

Contact 92502241 / 92245110 Furnished / unfurnished apartments available for rent on long term /short term basis, near Vacha’s hypermarket in Ghala. Contact 97677211 Flat, 3 BHK, hall, Al Khuwair near Centre point, RO 425/-, family only.

Contact 92479515

1 BHK near Medical Darsait.

RO 190/-. Contact 98748925

Flat, Ghubrah, 2 BHK, hall, split AC, RO 350, family only near Beiret Bank. Contact 92479515

New flat, Ghala near Royal Hospital, 3 BHK, hall, split A/C, RO 425/-.

Contact 92479515

Flats/villas owned by ROP pension fund available for rent in Muscat.

Contact 99349526

1,000 sq mtrs industrial land in Misfah Industrial area near to Khanco. OMR 1,500 Monthly. Electricity and Boundary wall will be provided.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

Excellent flat for rent in Ruwi, Mumtaz Area and Al-Hail South.

Contact 98051159

For rent flat and showroom, Al Azaiba, Ghala, Ghubrah, Al Khuwair-33 and Mabelah. Contact 93651633, 24485240, 24485241

FOR SALE Forklift with clamp for sale: MakeCater Pillar-4 ton Model-2007.

Contact 99352790

A running Supermarket for sale in Wadi Kabir. Contact 95113037 Running Business Marble, Granite & Tiles cutting & polishing, carpentry & Aluminium Workshop in Wadi Kabir for immediate sale.

Contact 99105492 Running Aluminum Workshop for sale at Barka Industrial Area.

Contact 94282950 2 shops for sale behind Honda Road. Contact 99464758

New building in Al Ansab high quality, yearly income more than 90,000/- sale price only 750,000/-.

Contact 91155779, 24507072 More than 17,000 SQM commercial land in Ghala, 275/ per SQM. Contact 91155779, 24507072 Commercial land in Honda Road for sale. Contact 91155779, 24507072 Two Bungalows plot area 1578 SQM, Bait Ras Beach Zanzibar, RO 91000, Bousher plot area 891 SQM, residential RO 118000, Buraimi plot area 600 SQM RO 18000.

Contact owner 99348943 or 92269749

New building 20 BHK flat, 7 shops, Mabela. Contact 95779595

Big showroom (two floors) for sale opposite Oman house & Muttrah Hotel. Total 600 square meter.

Contact 92827734 / 93206400

For sale 10,000 Gallon HDP 6 tank vertical type Amiantit make, brand new piece for an attractive price, stock clearance.

Contact 97079369, 95293651

Running Engineering Consulting Office on prime location for immediate lease. Contact 99854384

For sale all household home appliance items. Contact 97048983, 95293643 Looking for building in (Al Ghobrah, Al Khuwair, Al Azaiba, Bousher, Al Qurum and MQ) for sale.

Contact us 91155779, 24507072.

Email: gk@goldenkeyreal-estate.com New buildings in Al Ghobrah, Ghala, Wadi Al Kabir, Al Mabela, Al Amerat for sale. Contact us 91155779, 24507072.

Email: gk@goldenkeyreal-estate.com If you have any properties/enquiries Contact us 91155779, 24507072.

Email: gk@goldenkeyreal-estate.com Looking for commercial lands/res.

Lands/ in (Al Ghobrah/Al Khuwair/Al Azaiba/Bousher/Al Qurum/MQ) for sale.Contact 91155779, 24507072 Looking for villas/lands for sale in Ruwi Al Mumtaz Area. Contact 91155779, 24507072

Wanted transport near City Centre Seeb till Al Khuwair KFC drop at 8 pm pick at 5.

Contact 98528062

FOR SALE New & Refurbished portable cabins, Fabrication of car parks & all types of fabric shade. Contact 94475705 We sell ready mix concrete.

Contact 99054673 Porta cabin containers used for sale. Contact 99199374 / 94252527

Sharing for family/working lady, Hamriya, rent RO 95/-. Contact 99639211 Semi-furnished spacious room with separate entrance attached washroom for non-cooking Indian Executive Bachelor near ISG, Ghobrah. Contact 95146361, 92657598 Sharing flat with AC for Executive Bachelor, Christian preferred in Wadi Kabir. Contact 93182705 after 5 pm Single bedroom with A/C and sharing kitchen at Al Khuwair.

Contact 99636550 Bachelor Sharing Accommodation available in villa, Rex Road RuwiContact- 94442157 Attached rooms at Al Khuwair opp Rawasco behind Pizza Muscat.

Contact - 99361589 Furnished room with bathroom for a non cooking executive bachelor at Al Khuwair. Contact 95875735 Furnished room available for rent in Darsait with separate bathroom and parking. Contact 97883616 Sharing new flat, furnished separate bedroom attached bathroom & kitchen for small family / executive bachelor, Honda Road near NBO Bank. Contact 98582078 Furnished single room with bathroom Al Khuwair. Contact 95765719 Sharing accommodation available for a small veg. Family/bachelor at Wadi Kabir. 99877845 Furnished Single BHK available near ISM, Darsait for immediate takeover #99477514 / 94288397 Sharing for executive bachelor or working lady near ROP Welfare Shopping Wattaya.

Contact 95729931

Industrial Kitchen for Lease/Sale: Fully Equipped Industrial Catering Kitchen with Restaurant space and Outdoor sitting area on Lease/Sale at Mawaleh near vegetable market.

Call- 9954 1671

Furnished unfurnished attached bath & kitchen at Mumtaz Area.

Contact 93103337, 96916398

For sale: shfandishs.

Contact 99368907

6 Seater sofa set & dining table with chairs, good condition.

Contact 99327247 / 99348012

Ground floor bed, living, kitchen, bathroom, dressing, Al Khuwair.

Contact 99743569, 97004265

Turkish MDF Classic door with frame full quantity for sale by discount price. Contact 92858025, 95643086, 99208798

23,886 Sq Mtrs Agriculture land with water well in Al Salwa, Barka. OMR 260 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

Sharing accommodation available in Qurum. Contact 93155369

SHOP FOR SALE AT HONDA RD. CONTACT 99221683 / 92830110

Leather sofa 3+1+1+1 with Centre table. Contact 99349311

Used containers for sale.

Contact 95539929

3 floor building in Muttrah behind Police. Generating income of OMR 20 Thousand annually. Neat and well maintained. Built on 197 sq mtrs. 2 tailor shops on ground floor and 6 flats total. OMR 269 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

A very well established branded lighting trading company having business with hotels, buildings & schools retail for sale in UAE Asking price: $ 3 millions. Interested persons may email with complete details to evershinedxb2015@gmail.com” Coastal fishing vessel 15 meter length manufactured in Greece contains two motors and registered in Ministry of Fishest and Ministry of Transport. Contact 99878847, 97078884

Industrial Area land in Rusayl 5000 SQM and building with 8 shops.

Contact 95490842, 99323957 Flats For Sale in Boushar: OMR 35 Thousand 1 bedroom. OMR 45 Thousand 2 bedroom. Monthly income 1 bedroom OMR 270 and 2 bedroom OMR 350. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

2 Rooms acc. with kitchen for rent in Mumtaz Area. 95953700.

Fully furnished accommodation for executive bachelor near Lulu Darsait. Contact 93513986 Sharing accommodation available for Executive bachelor near to Muttrah hotel. Contact 98132389 1 BR accommodation available at Rex Road, suitable for bachelors.

Contact 99889590 Spacious room, separate bathroom, sharing kitchen at Wadi Kabir, Shell Pump rent RO 90/- & E/W RO 20/- per month for Muslim family. Contact 97887620

D4

T U E S D AY, N OV E M B E R 2 5, 2 0 1 4

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

ADMIN/HR

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

Indian Female, 29, MBA (HR), exp 4 yrs in Oman & India, HR & Admin.

Looking for suitable placement.

Contact 95619537

Indian B.Sc. Maths+PGDCA - well experienced, seeks suitable placement as Commercial/Logistic Executive or Document Controller/Customer Service Executive; expected on short visit by Nov. 1st Week; #99702383.

Email: prabhapisharody@yahoo.com

Indian Male with Masters Degree and with 7 years experience in HR/ Admin possesses NOC and can join immediately. Contact 96684424 Omani female with 9 yrs exp looking for PRO job with Oman D/L. Contact 97917333

SALES / MARKETING Required Sales Engineer having 1-2 year experience with Oman driving license for an Oilfield trading company, please send CV to info@patron-energy.com Required urgently for Sales & Marketing of Technical products & PPE with valid Omani D/L. Candidates in Oman with minimum 3-4 years experience & good product knowledge may forward resume, photo, expected gross salary & soonest joining date to bmsales2014@gmail.com Required senior Sales Executive with experience in stationery business with driving license.

Forward your resume to alananukthomas@gmail.com Urgently required Marketing Executive, minimum 5 years experience with Omani Driving License.

Contact 24498508, Email: safeersurtrading@gmail.com

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE A reputed LLC in Muttrah urgently required an Accountant Assistant, 2 years experience. Those who are interested please forward your resume to silverworld2006@gmail. com or contact 99364735, 91214849

ARCHITECT Required a junior Architect for a Consultancy Office.

Email: staffcareoman@gmail.com

BEAUTY Need an Indian Beautician in a Salon at Amerat. Contact 94082319

CATERING Staff wanted for hotel, Salalah, front office, marketing chefs (Arabic/Asian/Continental), waiters and waitress, stewarding.

Send CV with picture to salalahph@salalahph.com

DRIVER

EDUCATION

MANAGER / SUPERVISOR

English medium school in Sinaw, Oman required experienced Kindergarten / Primary teachers (English, Maths), attractive salary + accommodation. Send CV on saminternationalschoolsinaw@ gmail.com .Contact 92815209

Grade 1 Civil Construction Company urgently requires the following personnel : - 1. Project Coordinator, 2.Construction Manager, 3. Project Manager, 4.Civil Engineer, 5. Civil Supervisor, 6.Building Materials Purchaser, 7.Accountant.

Interested candidates mail CV to azatllc@gmail.com or fax to 24422458

ENGINEERS Consultancy Office requires a Structural Engineer 3 years experience in Oman. Submit CV to edsubmit@yahoo.com One sight Engineer & One Quantity Surveyor required with 10 years of Oman experience in civil for grade 1 Construction Company.

Email: omaniantrad@gmail.com Required for Al Shirawi Equipment Company LLC, Sales Engineer with fabrication experience, 5 to 7 years (1 No.), experience in Tipping Trailer, Flat bed, low bed, water tanker, tipper. Contact 94226924

Exciting career opportunities for accomplished Media & Advertising Business Development Executives/ Graphic Designers/Web Designers. jobs@interacoman.com REQUIRED: Marketing Executive.

DL MUST. 91120552.

Marketing Executive required for 2 months corporate promotion campaign with attractive benefits.

Email: teamingteam@gmail.com

Wanted MBBS Doctor with MOH license to work in a Polyclinic. Attractive salary with commission offered.

Contact 92788334 email: ap_sdsudhi@yahoo.com A reputed Clinic in Mabela is looking for a GP circumcision license.

Email CV to vacancyahh@gmail.com

Light duty driver Kerala for a Construction company.

Contact 98294692 Required Indian house driver with Oman / UAE experience.

Contact – 24631442 Need driver. Contact 91310107 Wanted driver for part. Contact 95112461 Telugu Driver WantedContact 95450157 Urgently driver wanted, Omani (private light). Contact 99173812, Star life Co.LLC

FOREMAN Required for leading company – one foreman (Indian). Email : r.yass2020@gmail.com

HOSPITALITY Wanted experienced Indian Chef, age between 30-35, experience in Indian & Continental food is must.

Good salary package.

Contact 99466062 Business Development cum Outlet Manager required for reputed Asian Franchise in Muscat. 5 to 7 years of experience in restaurant/catering business with 2 years in supervisory position. Self-driven people with pleasing personality and good communication skills.

Call 93977533

DOMESTIC HELP MISCELLANEOUS Urgently required a cook for a respectable Omani family. Contact 24566754/ 24566986 Kerala Housemaid required for Keralite Family. Visa available, who can get NOC please contact 99703788 House Maid (full time) required for Keralite family near in Sohar. Contact: 97034674, 93558111 Looking for a professional Gardener to work in Madinat Qaboos, good salary, visa & accommodation will be provided.

Contact if you have NOC/Release or visa. Contact 92447365

EDUCATION A School requested a qualified expert teaching English as a foreign language, a Science Teacher with a master degree. Maths teacher and a laboratory technician.

Contact - 96606121

Required Salesman, tailor and barber. Contact 96964767 Company requires smart Philipino driver and Call Center operator (Indian) to work on shifts. Please email CV to calcentr24600100@gmail.com.

Excellent Grade Construction Company urgently requires. 1. Civil Draughtsman. & Civil Engineers (Min 5 years experience in buildings) 2. Sr. Planning Engineer & Sr Quantity Surveyor (Min 8 years experience). 3. Accountant (Omani & Expat) 4. PRO / Secretary / Admin Assistant (Omani). Candidates with NOC experience preferable for immediate joining. Mail CV to hrd.hasjv@gmail.com Urgently required experienced young Boat Man. Language proficiency in English is must. Please contact 99466062

Required female Nurse holding license & resident card for locum basis to work for Mabelah and April 2015 in a private Clinic in Ruwi.

Contact 99367223 / 92436896 Required orthodontist – full time in Muscat. BDS, MDS and Morth qualified or with MOH license and NOC. Contact 99010755, email : sundentalghubra@hotmail.com Required Nurse for a Clinic in Al Buraimi S.Of.Oman.

Contact 00968 92737149. CV to drpkabbas@yahoo.co.in Wanted Ophthalmologists, Dentist and Nurses with MOH License for Nizwa. Please contact medicalvacancy2015@gmail.com Wanted Doctor with MOH license for a Polyclinic. Excellent salary with accommodation and commission.

Contact 99752442, email : mmcmuscat@gmail.com MOH licensed female nurse required for clinic in Muscat for immediate placement. Contact 93538672 Pharmacist and Assistant Pharmacist with MOH license are required.

Interested candidates contact 97091664 or mmcmuscat@gmail.com.

Good payment with incentives.

SKILLED / UN SKILLED Required Tailor. Contact 95204145

SECRETARIAL Urgently required Omani Receptionist for a reputed Medical Centre in capital area.

Contact 24613136, 92724345

SALES / MARKETING Sales & Marketing job with very good commission, for expats only in Muscat, Salalah & Sohar. # 92760281

HR & Admin Assistant, 26 yrs Indian Male having 6Years of experience looking for suitable position.

Contact No: +968-93264616 Male, 27 years with MBA in HR/ MKT having 2 years exp in respective field looking for suitable placement in leading organization.

Contact 91705051

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Accountant BCom. 2yrs Oman experience. NOC available. Joing immediatley-93089367 Accountant, indian male, 31yrs, M.com, 4 yrs experince in oman, NOC available, Cont-93376130 , 92398040 Accountant 3.5yrs.noc available. joingimmediatly.mba(hr).98772358 hellogoush@gmail.com

Urgently required Sales Executive IT Company with 2 years experience, driving license preferred info@ibsoman.com Urgently required Sales & Marketing Executive for an Engineering company, minimum 2 year experienced, with good communication skill & driving license. Email : info@4dengineering.net

Sudanese, Bachelor of Computer Science, 6 years experience in Accounting and Marketing and Management in the field of Insurance and Underwriting, valid vehicle license. Contact 97269293

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ED

ACCOUNTANT, M com, TALLY & ERP, 10 yrs Gulf Exp , NOC available PH 99035707

ADMIN/HR Required Indian Driver holding Omani Driving License with 5 years experience. Please contact 99273774 / 99202278

Indian Male 32 yrs( MBA-HR) 9 yrs of Exp (GCC,AFRICA) in EPC, Diversified industries, Seeking Suitable placement in HR/Admin. Currently on visit visa, NOC available, join immediately. Contact 94535618 Email:mdakhter5219@gmail.com

Indian Male, 27 yrs B.Com Graduate 3.5 yrs of experience, 1.5 yrs in Accounts Oman having Oman Driving License looking for a good suitable job in any field.# 96131298- Email: wasimmhusaini@yahoo.com

MEDICAL Urgently required female Medical Lab Technician with MOH license in Dakhaliya region. Salary R.O 450/ month & overtime allowance. Contact: 98185756 or 98384175

Indian male, B.Com, 5 years Office Executive experience sector Agency seeking job in office/Company for administration. Email : aneeshjohn28@gmail.com, currently on visit visa. Contact 99846801

Indian Male, 35 years with 10 years of Oman experience in HR & Administration , looking for suitable placement . Please contact 99697957.”

Young Omani male have experience 10 years as P.R.O , CLERK, helper supervisor, admin supervisor, H.R Manager have diploma in H.S.E , IT , and P.D.O license looking for H.R position or P.R.O part time or full time.

Contact 95933288 Indian Male B.Com with 14+ yrs experience in HR and Recruitment looking for suitable opening, can join immediately. Contact 97100419 Indian male age 48 yrs Hr. & Admin Assistant 6 yrs experience in gulf seeking employment for suitable position. Release and NOC Available.

Contact: 95305425.

Indian 17 years Oman experience with driving license in Administration / Accounts looking for suitable placement. Contact 92926184 Young Indian male with British graduation & post graduation with relevant Muscat experience in business admin & purchase seeks placement. Posses NOC & Driving License.

Ph:94400671 Indian Female, 30 Years, B.Com, 3 years Oman experience in Banking and 5 Years India. Contact 96727030/96253400 Indian male MBA 32 yrs having 10 yrs of exp seeking suitable placement in Admin/ HR/ Operations/ Coordination/ Logistics etc. Holding valid Oman D/L .Contact - 99054786 Experience PRO Oman Male, 36 Yrs, 16 yrs experience in PRO/ HR & Administration, Prefect English language speaking & writing with D/L, Seeks suitable placement, Can join immediate. #91221773 Omani 14 years experienced candidate looking for HR Manager position in Muscat. Contact 92817182

Indian Male, 15 years GCC experience in Accounts & Sales on visit visa seeks suitable placement.

Contact 93897395 Part time Accountant services available to handle all accounts related work up to finalization.

Contact 94105477 7 years experience in Accounts (Oman), Indian Male, B.Com, MBA (Finance), holding valid Omani Driving License seeks suitable placement in Accounts, Administration.

Contact 93683297 Quality Assurance officer, ISO Quality system internal Auditor, female 27, with 4 years experience, seeks suitable placement.

Email: nipuni.d.silva@gmail.com Accounts Manager, Indian MaleHindu, 22 yrs experience (including 9 yrs in Gulf), B.Com, MBA, pursuing CMA (US), Oman D/L, visa expires, NOC available. Contact 97438194, Email: njansun@gmail.com Indian Male, 24 yrs, M.Com, 2 years exp in Accounts & Admin looking for suitable placement. # 96351341, Email: mail2ajithpc@gmail.com Accountant, B.Com 8 yrs experience Dubai. Contact +971 559429220, email: sharath553@yahoo.com, 99899102

Chief Accountant, M.Com + CA articles completed.Having 5 yrs of experience in Oman.Excellent command in IAS and IFRS.seeks proper placement. GSM # 94387066 Indian Male: B.COM, 4 years experience in Accounts, in Manufacturing Co Oman, Working Knowledge With Tally ERP- With Oman valid D/L,Presently working in Muscat NOC Available Looking for Suitable position in Reputed Company, Contact; 95745287 and Email: raiforeveryone@rediffmail.com Accountant Indian Male, B.Com, 3 years Gulf experience, 27 yrs, visa: family visit, looking for suitable job, can join immediately.

Contact 94619969 Indian Male, MBA 2 years experience in Accounts and Admin looking for suitable placement. Contact 92045306.

11 years Gulf experience indoor sales, Accounts / finance / cash handling, visit visa in Oman.

Contact 98845892 Senior Position for CA with 24 years of experience: Managing Finance, Accounts, Audit, Bank Loans, Budgeting, Business planning, Strategy, Purchase and Sale management of group of companies.

SAOG Mobile 91799262 Chartered Accountant Indian (Female) having valid Omani DL and work experience of 1 year in a Big 4 Audit firm (India) seeks suitable placement. GSM: 99484368 Seeking jobs in Accounts/Office Staff Indian-completed B.Com, 6 years experience in UAE as Accountant on visiting visa till Jan 1st.

Contact 97927167 Pakistani MBA (Finance) male looking for suitable position. Experienced in accounts. Contact no: 96351655. sheikhsalman120@gmail.com 20 yrs experienced Accountant seeks employment, ACCA (UK), CPA/MBA + Oracle Financials ERP, Hyperion Planning, SAP & Advanced Excel. Contact sanjeevcga@gmail. com or 98934705 Part Time Accounting, Accounts Finalization, Audit Preparation, Internal Audit, Onsite Tally Training, Onsite Training for Accountants, Inventory Management, Feasibility Study and Project Reports. Contact: 96975454, email: ibfcoman@hotmail.com Male 27, 7+ years of experience in Accounts and Administration, out of 4 years experience in Oman looking for a suitable placement.

Contact 93531602 Indian Female 29 Yrs, B-Com Graduate with Basic Computer Knowledge and Tally, having 6 yrs experience in accounting seeking for the placement in Account Assistant, currently on visit visa in Oman Contact: 95478149 Email: tnaik15@gmail.com Indian female Senior Accountant with 10 years experience in Accounts, Finance, Audit & Tax Management. Contact 96263157 Indian male age 30 having 10 yrs experience in Finance & Accounts seeking suitable placement.

Contact 93675399 Pakistani Male, ACCA Fundamental Level qualified, advanced Diploma in Accounting and Business certified accounting technician, 3 years experience as Accounts Officer. #99860453, Email: khalid.ikram08@gmail.com

DRIVER

Indian Male, 26 yrs, MBA-Finance, SAP certified, 2 years experience in finance, accounting and banking, well versed in SAP-FIECC 6.0, ERP tally 9 and MS Office currently on visit visa seeks suitable placement.

Contact Raju – 97469920

Bangladeshi male, 27 years looking for driving job, 5 years Qatar and 2 years Oman experience.

Contact 96692774

Female expat 22 ACCA - pursuing final paper, 6 months experience in tally, tax & audit in an audit firm looking for suitable placements preferably in audit firm. Ph: 98428098

Driver HD, Pakistani. Contact 93873120

Indian female, MBA in HR & Finance, 3 yrs experience in Accounts & Administration seeking suitable placement. Contact 93685717.

Email : anulins7@gmail.com

Bangladeshi Male having 6 months experience till date at light vehicle driving looking for job in any company any office. Contact 98596728, 96271222

Light driver for job, 2 years experience. Contact 93181200

Experienced driver with car is looking for job. Contact 92481082

T U E S DAY, N O V E M B E R 2 5 , 2 0 1 4

D5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED DRIVER 15 years experienced Indian Light Driver. Contact 98993526 Driver looking for job.

Contact 93051674 Bangladeshi male having 2 yrs exp in Light Vehicle Driving.

Contact 98487511 Experienced Driver available.

Contact 95076476 Light driver looking for job, 5 years exp in Saudi Arabia + Oman 2 yrs.

Contact 96088707 Looking for job light driver, experience 15 years. Contact 94436276 / 93183817 Indian Female, Software tester, 5 years experience in Oracle India and Wipro Technologies having knowledge in SQL and Data Warehouse concepts looking for suitable job vacancies. Contact 98605362, Email : suma.s2t3@gmail.com Exp driver with own car seeks job.

Contact 91145856 Indian driver looking for job, 2 yrs exp. Contact 95151738 Sri Lankan driver looking for job.

Contact - 97387112

DOMESTIC HELP Part time or full time housemaid looking for job.preferably Kerala family.phone number 94017485.

DRAUGHTSMAN AutoCAD Draughtsman, Architecture, Structure looking for suitable position.

Contact 94436180, 98147600

DESIGNER Indian Male, 25 yrs, Masters Diploma in Interior Designing with 2 yrs Indian experience presently on visit visa looking for suitable job.

Contact 98497385, email: sava4ever@gmail.com Tunisian interior and furniture designer, 8 yrs exp in Oman looking for suitable placement.

Local release available (NOC).

Contact 92038385

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Telecom Engineer with 8 yrs exp from India in IT Networking seeks suitable opportunities now in Oman.

Contact 99002635 Emal : sibinkumar.acharya@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer (B.Tech), Indian Male, with Oil Engg & Quality Control Systems, NDT-Level 2 qualified as per ASNT, one year experience as Site Engineer. Presently on visit visa, seeking suitable placement. Contact # 91260427, 95147671, Email: akhilanandan@gmail.com Telecom Engineer, Master Degree in UK with seven years, UK, Gulf and Sri Lanka experiences, Installation Operations maintains and Project Management. Presently on visit visa looking for a telecom related role.

Contact 94626136, Email: firnazmo@gmail.com Asst. Quantity Surveyor (4 years experience in Oman) looking job (NOC available) Contact 96785025 Mechanical Engineer 21m Indian fresher, seeking job, visit visa.

Contact: 99027468 Email: anshul493@gmail.com Pakistani male age 30 years technical supervisor (3 yrs diploma Civil) 5 yrs exp in Oman seeking employment for suitable position. Release and NOC Available Contact 99765361 Indian Male, Diploma Instrumentation BBM, experience 5 years valid Oman Driving License looking sales. pradeep82gem@gmail.com.

Contact 96695098 / 98280591 Civil Engineer, Palestinian, 5+ years experience in various fields-Supervision, design, QS and Projects Management, has very good knowledge of MS-Project, AutoCAD, SAP, STAD with valid Omani Driving License.

NOC available. Contact 91761364, Email: a-shaqfa@hotmail.com B.E Civil, 8yrs Experience, Expertise in Project Execution & Management, Proficient in MS Project, Primavera P6, AutoCAD & MS Office.

Release available.

GSM: 92167523

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Indian B.E Mechanical Engineer with level 2 certification in QA/QC having experience in maintenance engineering,piping,pipe line engineering and welding inspection.

Looking for suitable job Contact : 91360997/99257867 Email: binukoshydaniel@gmail.com Electrical Engineer with 4 years experience in power distribution and transmission lines, Oman Driving License and NOC available. Email: azhariqbal.fsd@gmail.com, contact 96492554 Indian Male, IT Support Engineer, 2 yrs in Oman & 5 yrs Indian experience. Contact 97311847 Mechanical Engineer B.E with Oman experience in heavy construction equipments and vehicles, maintenance, services, hire, tower crane etc. Contact: 97458641 Planning Engr. 6 yrs exp. P6, Valid D/L seeks placement. 95196628 / planning.engr.mct@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer,(BTech in Mechanical) with Certified quality controller - NDT level 2 qualified as per ASNT - SNT-TC-I A, with 1 & half yr exp. as quality control engineer, presnetly in India seeks suitable placement Cont : 95405033 suhylehameed@gmail.com BE Biomedical Engineer + 2 years experience in India seeking suitable placement. Contact 93092484, Email: shehin.muhammed270@gmail.com Civil Engineer, Indian, 22 yrs experience (12 yrs in Oman) seeking suitable placement NOC available.

Contact 98314531 Diploma in Electronics Engineering with 5 years experience in Oman as Customer Service Coordinator, Inventory Control and Indoor Sales Executive seeks suitable job. Speaks Arabic, English & Hindi. Contact 95681406.

Email nizampu@yahoo.co.in B.E. Civil Engineer having 9 years of experience in the Constructions of Building looking for a Sultanate job.

Contact 91078499 Electrical Engineer with ROP license, 4 years experience in Oman.

Contact 93513372 Pakistani Male, BS, Software Engineering having 1 year experience in Software house Pakistan, also IT and Admin seeks suitable placement.

Contact fahadahmad8@yahoo.com, fahadbtk@gmail.com.

Contact 92470174 Mechanical Engineer with Diploma in Mechanical Engineering and ASNT Level II (UT, RT, PT & MT), my qualification includes 5 years experience in Projects. Contact 94619432 Indian Male Instrumentation / Automation Engineer with 4 yrs experience in Engg & Maintenance of PLC, DCS, SCADA and field instruments having valid PTW and Omani Driving License looking for a suitable job. NOC available.

Contact - 92704787 Email: mishahed@yahoo.com Civil Engineer B.E, Indian, 6 years experience in Building Construction in Gulf holding driving license seeking for suitable post (Release NOC available). Contact 93616412 Mechanical Engineer, Indian Male, 30 yrs, 5 years exp (3 yrs in GCC) seeking suitable placement in Oil and Gas Sector. Have valid GCC driving License. Email: msfebco@gmail. com, Contact: 91228398 Electrical Engineer with 5 years Gulf Experience in HV and LV ,I/D and O/D substation,U/G cable ,Overhead line,valid Oman driving license.

Contact: 0096895054644, 00919488888464, Email: speninsam@gmail.com A Filipino National seeking for the job Vacancy as Safety Officer, Fire Engineer, Fire Inspector, Fire and Safety Instructor. Well experienced in Offshore and Petrochemical Plants with an IOSH Certificate. Please contact 91718309 or 26855037 Civil Engineer 12 years Gulf experience with driving license NOC available. Contact 91531213

Software Engineer looking for a suitable job. 2+ years experience in a Multi National Company, now looking for suitable position in software division of reputed organizations. Currently on Visit Visa. Please contact: 97463452, 97080684 Indian male 25 B.Tech (IT) Engineer 2.5 yrs exp in hardware networking, currently on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact - 94359564 Sudanese Female Communication Engineer with experience 2 years.

Contact 91780953 Project Electrical Engineer, 3 years experience primary substation OHL cables, driving license available (NOC) available. Contact 94372096 Civil Engineer, 6+ years work experience in Oman, valid Omani D/L looking for suitable placement.

Contact 96936404 Indian, M.Tech Electrical Engineer (Female), fresher in family visa seeking suitable placements in Oman.

Contact 94306164 Project Engineer, 3 years experience in primary substation OHL oil & gas, AutoCAD, driving license available. Contact 95120225, 99410588 Civil Engineer with 8 years experience and valid Omani D/L looking for suitable placement. Ready to join immediately. Contact 95326194 / 99525367 Instrumentation Engineer, Indian male having 2 years experiences in process instruments seeks suitable placement. Contact 95954385 Electrical Engineer, Indian, 2.5 years experience at Thermal Plant, (erection and commissioning). Now in Oman on visit seeking suitable job. Contact 95836714.

Email – sarat.thalappil@gmail.com BE Civil Engineer, fresh graduate, male 24 yrs, Indian looking for a suitable placement.

Contact 95117509 Male Telecom Engineer experience in Gulf 5 years. Contact 95219822

INFORMATION TECH Female Computer Science and Engineering Graduate With ASP .NET Certification - Muscat 91706562 Indian Male with 4 years experience in Optical Fiber Cable splicing and related equipments, presently in Oman on visit visa seeking suitable placement. Contact 94525460 / 93257581.

Email: jidhinpius7@gmail.com Desktop Support Technician, B.Sc Computer Science, Indian Male, 25 yrs. Contact 94525218, email: rameezkk@outlook.com.

ERP Consultant with 23 years of experience is available for taking up any ERP implementation project.

Can handle RFP preparation, till project sign off. Contact: 93200901, meitbuz@gmail.com .

Indian M/26, 2yr exp, MCSA certified, looking IT Admin/Networking jobs, on visit visa, can join soon, GSM 94513655 Indian Male, 29, MCA Master of Computer Applications, B.Sc having 6+ years experience in IT industry, Software implementation and technical support seeks suitable placement currently on visit visa.

Contact +968-94543668, Email: mdjaveed.it@gmail.com Indian Male, 4 years experience in Computer Hardware Networking Purchasing of MEP Materials seeking suitable placement.

Contact 98682726, Email: vhmfaisal@gmail.com Indian Female, Computer Engineer with 14 Years of IT Experience. Dual Expertise both in Business / System Analyst and Project Management role. Looking for any IT opportunity pertaining to Business Analyst / Project Manager / Software Quality Assurance role.

Contact 968 92661857 Email : sknair7@hotmail.com Young and energetic Indian holding Oman driving license, having 6+ years experience in IT Industry (4+ years in Oman) seeks placement.

Contact : 92687056, 92228414

MEDICAL EDUCATION M.A B.ED well experienced indian lady teacher of economics,social science & English looking for suitable job.Contact : 94365112 A Computer System Engineer, female 26 looking for teaching job in a reputed Institute having teaching experience, Subjects: Kindergarten, IT, Mathematics and all 0’levels subjects. Contact 91679220 MSc. Chemistry Teacher (5 y EXP.) Pakistani female looking for a job in School/college. Contact 96580101

FOREMAN Pakistani male age 40 years electrical, plumbing & Civil foreman 16 years experience in Oman with valid Omani driving license(light) seeking employment for suitable position Contact:-99051257.

HOSPITALITY Indian male 28 completed B.H.M.CT, 4 yrs exp in food & beverages dept. looking for senior supervisor position. Contact – 91018857 / mirazhar.ali51@gmail.com

Indian Male, Pharmacist, 11 years experience working in India. Contact 0091-9880583496, Email: pashavips@gmail.com, 97312111 Lab Technician, Civil (8yrs Gulf experience) looking for a suitable job (NOC available) Contact-93344378 Pharmacist with MOH license and experience in Oman.

Contact 96535239 Female Pharmacist passed exam & viva PH: 95848971 Indian Female Dentist, MOH license holder, with an experience of 6 yrs, looking for a suitable opportunity. Contact 94046651 or prachiarekar24@gmail.com Indian Male GP with MOH License and NOC, having 10 years of excellent hands on experience in Oman with corporate culture.

Contact 98140024 Email: drgpoman@yahoo.com Ayurvedic Doctor male total 5 yrs exp, 2 yrs in Oman looking for suitable position.

Contact - 97944535

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR Smart, talented, qualified Manager, excellent English, 19 years reputed companies Oman experience. NOC. Contact 98179887 Professional, smart, highly qualified, talented, excellent English, 10 years rich Oman experience.

Contact 98179887 Indian Male 40 yrs, Legal advisor and coroprate in house lawyer currently working with a reputed legal firm in Muscat having 7 years gulf eperience looking for Legal Manager post in companies.

Experience in drafting agreements, contracts, negiotation and dispute settlement. Good knowledge in Oman Labour Law and other laws.

NOC available . GSM: 99137569 Electrical Supervisor having ROP license, 4 years experience in Oman.

Contact 96239342 Qualified Manager: (12+ yrs. Oman Exp.)Vast knowledge in A/c & Admin, Costing, Banking, Credit Control, Insurance, International Purchase/Logistics & Finance, With D/L looking for suitable position.

Contact: jskanchan01@gmail.com Gsm: 93826090 Indian Male 25 MBA in Sports Management; Looking for job in Sports administration/Sports events/ sports facility management and Sports related Organisations. Exp. as sports development officer in schools,Project Manager in Syncotts international Bangalore & part of World Hockey Series of India-2012 as Production Runner. Presently on Visit visa in Oman.# 96398569.

Email : limshukachery@gmail.com Indian Male, 25 years in Oman, FMCG business in Senior Manager level looking for senior position.

Contact 99015946

MECHANICAL /TECHWelder 6G, 3G, TIG, ARC, Fabrication, Gulf Exp. Contact : 97103168

Microbiologist & Quality Assurance Executive, female 27, with 4 years experience in food industry, looking for a suitable placement. Contact Email: nipuni.d.silva@gmail.com Male 22 Housekeeping front office Hotel management degree course.

Contact 96732520 Female 21 yrs, Tally 1 year experience, looking for visa.

Contact 95330720

Indian male B.Tech in EC with CCNA MCSE certification, having 5yrs experience seeking suitable placements.mob:94575080/ afzalpa007@gmail.com Indian Male seeks job, 13 yrs experience (Store Keeper) with Omani D/L visa expires Dec 25th 2014.

Contact 95355693 5 years surveyor for pipe line, 8 years Construction/Projects experienced Accountant, 5 years Draftsman to work in Salalah. Mail CV to greatcontruction14@gmail.com Female postgraduate Searching suitable Job Contact 97792820

Indian male, 18 years experience in Catering supervisor as Sales Executive in Saudi holding valid D/L. Email: emialdheen@gmail.com.

Contact 96304501 Marketing Professional with 7 years Oman experience in Business Development and ATL advertising looking for a suitable placement. Valid D/L Oman. GSM 93466033.

Email - kavit_asher@yahoo.com, MBA Marketing Male, 27 having 8 years of experience including Oman and UK experience having Omani Driving License looking for a marketing opportunity, NOC available.

Contact 98338592 Indian male, 25 years Graduate, 3 years experience in Sales in Delhi (India) on visit seeking suitable placement. Contact 98914220 Indian Male, 28 yrs, having 5 years experience in FMCG Sales in visit visa, Looking for any suitable jobs in Oman. # 98531486/ 98988824 Indian male, MBA (USA) having 5 years of International experience in Sales and Marketing. #98853309.

Email : savincgnr@yahoo.com Indian female having 8 years experience in Sales & Marketing in oil and gas field as commercial manager, looking for a suitable placement-NOC available -Contact -Mob: 96311709 Email- mvrajagd_d@yahoo.com Business Development Manager, Iraqi, Experience 14 Years Inside and outside Oman following activities: tenders& real estate& construction & marketing projects& investments& transportation & Marine services& companies management& develop business. Contact :- 93240027

TOURS & TRAVEL Indian Female: Bachelor in Travel & tourism.1 year experience in ticketing and 6 month in cargo (CIAL).

Looking suitable placement.

Contact 95883404

SECRETARIAL/OFFICE MISCELLANEOUS Indian female with 8 years experience in Oman, seeking suitable placement as Travel Coordinator / Secretary / Admin position. Please contact 92985246.

SALES / MARKETING Indian male, 32yrs b.Com, 6.5 Yrs exp in purchase asst and store keeper seeking suitable placement.

Contact 95318192.

Marketing Executive male 23 years, 2 years exp with NOC available, GCC driving license, working in sales and warehouse management looking for suitable opening please contact 94030909 Filipino Female, 34 years Graduate in Business Management, 5 years experience as Sales Lady. Worked in FM Mall Philippine looking for suitable placement. Contact 91344837, email: imanulal@gmail.com 10 yrs experience in Sales Service Customer Care, Technical Support Person (laptop, desktop, consumer electronics) seeking suitable job.

Contact 92315011 Executive post, having 14 + years experience in Multinational Groups in Marketing & Management, MBA. Contact 93190806

MISCELLANEOUS Indian Male, 26 yrs, graduate in hospitality science, with New Zealand business diploma and previous Oman experience in Customer service seeks suitable placement in hospitality/salesmarketing/ logistics/ admin. Contact 91383167

SALES / MARKETING

Indian Male, MBA in Marketing and Finance, 10 years’ Sales & Business Development Experience with valid D/L of Oman & UAE looking for a suitable placement. NOC Available.

Contact: 93969961 e-mail abhilash.pvrk@gmail.com Indian male B. Com having experience in Sales & Accounts. Looking for suitable placement.

Contact – 99069809 / faisalmuhammad37@gmail.com Sales/ Marketing / customer service release / NOC available UK + Oman experience valid Oman D/L, excellent communication & organizing skills, can join immediately, Email : plavon_ctg@yahoo. com, gsm 92342060 / 96761225

Indian Male, 22 years, B.Tech Mechanical (Fresher) from NIT, Calicut. Software skills – ANSYS, PRO-E Solid works. Contact 91294510 / 99437002, email: nsp1618@gmail.com Civil draughtsman part time work for job mob: 96023726 Indian Male, Post graduate with experience as Document controller on visit seeking a suitable job.

Please contact 97248144. samiullah_ar@yahoo.co.in MBA in HR, 6+ years work experience in HR & Admin in MNC, Indian Female, 26 Good communications skills seeking suitable placement.

Contact 97914669 26 years Indian male with MBA & PGDFM, Total 3.4 years experience in Administration seeking suitable placement in Muscat. Holding Oman valid driving license.

Contact: 93359371, Accountant, Indian male, 25 yrs, BBM CA, Computer proficiency: TALLY9, C+, 1 yrs Experience in Oman, Seeks suitable placements. mob: 97145531 Indian female looking for a part time accounts job in capital area only. Knows Tally. # 95482970.

MBA in HR, 6+ years work experience in HR & Admin in MNC, Indian Female, 26, Good communications skills seeking suitable placement.

Contact 97914669 Required Accountant job 4years experience visa exp 3.dec.14 Holding D/L. Contact - 98283400 Indian Male 38 years, Electronic Engineer with 14 yrs of Oman experience and proven track record as Sales & Marketing Manager (Electronics, Electrical & ElectroMechanical Products) with valid Oman D/L looking for a suitable placement in a reputed Organization. Please contact 92208744, Email: ebpadmakumar@yahoo.com

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T U E S DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 5, 2 0 1 4

DAILY GUIDE

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

EVERY FRIDAY 2.00PM ON INDIA’S KAIRALI PEOPLE TV

● Worldwide ● Air Ticket ● Car Rental ● Holiday Packages ● Hotel Reservations ● Travel Insurance Call: 0096824790400, 0096898569830 Email: info@omanorienttravels.com

SITUATION WANTED Indian Male, 22 years, B.Tech Mechanical (Fresher) from NIT Calicut, Software skills – ANSYS, PRO-E solid works. Contact 91294510 / 99437002. Email: nsp1618@gmail.com

57 Yrs. Old healthy person seeking an opportunity in any area of works (Shop sales man, Painting, Store asst, traffic controller, Foremen, Controller) .Saudi experienced.

Contact-97239854-Asher

Diploma in civil Engineer, Male, 5 years experience in Oman as a Site Engineer, worked at Hyundai Engineering & Construction Company, JMB-1, 20 storied high rise building, Industrial building, substation, roads & highway at Indian Railway Construction Company, looking for suitable placement.

Contact 97140857

Eight years experience in the field of Sales, Marketing & Branch in charge & Having Valid Oman Driving License with NOC.Presently in Oman.

Seeking for Placements Cont: Sumesh: 92718716 onsumesh@gmail.com

Male 30, 6 years Oman experience in Sales, Currently working with an UAE based Company operating in UAE and Oman Market with valid UAE and Oman D/L looking for suitable placement. # +968 91212407 (NOC not required) Indian Female, BSC Nurse, on visit having 4 years experience in Medical Surgical with Prometric Certificate looking for a suitable placement. Contact: 98329941/ Email: ancyanish2011@gmail.com Indian Male, 23 yrs MBA Marketing & Finance, 6 months experience as a Sales and Operations Officer looking for suitable job. Contact 99106181, email : akram8145@gmail.com Indian Male, B.Sc Fashion & Apparel Design having 4+ yrs of experience (in Retail Sector as Designer-Visual Merchandising & Marketing) seeking suitable placement in any sections. Contact 94535866, Email: tomsjon@gmail.com Manager-Organizational & Marketing Communication, Masters in Journalism, Finance, strong English writing skills, creative professional, Oman exp in corporate Communication, Marketing, Business Development, Media Relations, Ads etc. NOC available. Contact 98179887 Indian Male, 22 years, B.Tech Mechanical (Fresher) from NIT Calicut, Software skills – Ansys, Pro-E solid works. Contact 91294510 / 99437002.

Email: nsp1618@gmail.com Merchandiser with Oman driving license. Contact 93798442 Infosys experienced male with engineering degree in Electronics and communication from a reputed University seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 95786295/ azhar.mumtaz90@gmail.com Senior Accounts Professional, Indian Male, 35 years, M.Com, MBA (Fin) 8 years in Oman, with valid Oman DL and NOC available. Capable to handle accounts up to finalization.

Contact 9602 3965.

Marketing Executive male 23 years, 2 years exp with NOC available, GCC driving license, working in sales and warehouse management looking for suitable opening please #94030909 Indian Female, M.Sc Software Engineering having 2 yrs experience in IT & Admin seeks suitable placement. Contact 94391214, anucherian@gmail.com Indian Male, 24 years old on visit visa, 3 years Diploma in Civil Engineering, 3 yrs experience.

Contact 98515106 Experienced Salesman with 5 years experience vehicle looking for job.

Contact 93079087 Indian male-26 having 2 years experience in Oman as a store keeper looking for the good placement, NOC available by the current company.

Contact 96671102, email: mohdparvez656@yahoo.com

B.Sc (Bio-Technology) & MBA having 4 years experience in Marketing and Sales currently on visit visa seeking suitable placement in Oman.

Email: meersameer768@gmail.com, GSM: 94517678 Civil Engineer, Diploma, Male 25, 3 years experience in site, CAD, 3d, MS Project, Seeking job in Oman.

Contact 92887561, jubincivileng@gmail.com Presales Engineer - IT 4yrs exp. engineering graduate (Indian female) currently on family visa looking for opportunities as Sales/Presales engineer or any suitable positions.

Contact: 0096895829278, kalpanasingh69@gmail.com Indian Male, 23 years MBA (Marketing) (6 months experience as a Sales and Operation Officer looking for suitable job. Contact 99106181, Email: akram8145@gmail.com IT software professional looking for a suitable position in Desktop/Web application development. Visit www. muhammedswafuvan.weebly.com for more details. Reach me on (+968) 98395032.

Part time accountant available.

Accounting experience up to finalization and tally also. #96423671 MBA, Indian Male, 28 yrs, HR & Admin, Marketing sales, 1 yr experience in India. I have release looking for any suitable job in Oman. #97484159 Pakistani male 32 years IT network + Computer Hardware professional A+ MCSE Termination Technician work Experience in Salalah airport.

10+ years experience in IT field and 2 years Oman working experience looking for a suitable placement contact no 96733205 Email faisalzaman24@gmail.com Indian Male, 38 years, Electronics Engineer with 14 years of Oman experience and proven track record as Sales & Marketing Manager (Electronics, electrical & electro mechanical products) with valid Oman D/L for a suitable placement in a reputed Organization. Contact 92208744, email : ebpadmakumar@yahoo.com Indian Male, 24 yrs, MBA in HR/ Marketing. More than 1 years experienced in retail Banking (Axis Bank) Presently in family visit in Oman seeking for a suitable placement# 99892082/ 997 43 709 Civil Engineer, Indian Female, having one year experience in Quantity Survey, also knows AutoCAD, primavera etc seeks placement.

Contact 91690345 Indian Male having 20 years Experience in Travel Agency in Oman.

Looking for suitable placement.

Contact 95692050.

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

Contact 9602 3965.

B Pharm, Indian female, Oman MOH License holder, seeking job.

Email- shivallath@gmail.com.

Contact no: 99665183

SIT.WANTED Diploma in civil engineering having an experience 23years (19years in Oman) experience in Estimator / quantity surveyor looking for a suitable placement. Willing to join immediately Contact: 96328687.

Indian male Engineer (B.E in E&C, MBA) with 5 years admin/professional experience looking for a suitable placement in a reputed company. Contact 91387463 email: i.career543@gmail.com 29 yr old indian male graduate 5yrs oman exp in sales and marketing with valid oman driving license looking for suitable job.Noc available ready to join immediately Contact 95136784 Indian male with over 19 years of qualitative experience in Automobile field, expert in providing technical advice on repairs and servicing seeks jobs in sales/ service in manegerial capacity. #91-7736048460. yamaharajesh@gmail.com INDIAN female having ten years experience as cook. South Indian, Gujarathi special. Contact 94224512 Homoeopathic Doctor, Indian Female, with MOH License( to be renewed) (Nearly 2 years exp in Muscat, Oman) seeks suitable placement in Clinics/Hospitals in Muscat area. Please Contact:92975815.

Electronics & communication Engineer, having 3+years experience (2Yeras GCC) in Security systems/ low current systems (FAS, CCTV, ACS, PAVA etc) seeking suitable Post in construction/manufacturing/production/maintenance depts.

Contact: hashimjm@gmail.com 91001523 Indian female 29 Graduate/Computer diploma 5-year work experience as Manager Administration/ HR in Construction & Real Estate seeking suitable placement .

On family Visa. Contact - 91191236 Indian Male MBA & PGDFM 26 Yrs. having 3.2 yrs of exp. seeking suitable placement in Admin/HR/ Accounts/Purchase co-ordinator etc..Holding valid Oman driving license. Contact No :93359371 British Female with 4 years experience in Oman in Marketing and Project Management.

Call 00974 3343 7619 Indian Male, B.Sc, Fashion & Apparel Design having 4+ yrs of experience (in retail sector as DesignerVisual Merchandising & Marketing) seeking suitable placement.

Contact 94535866, email: tomsjon@gmail.com

MATRIMONIAL

M.V. FOR SALE

Kerala Nair boy, 34 yrs, Chartered Accountant seeks suitable alliance.

Contact 91790746, email: rejith.radha@gmail.com Kerala Christian Malankara girl 28 / 155 GNM, MOH looking for suitable match from Muscat & Kerala (pta dist.

M$ ID + 4002623, Contact: 96440587 Keralite Hindu Ezhava – Upper Middle Class family. Alappuzha seeking alliance for their daughter, 24 years, 152 cm height, working in Oman. StarChothi preference for boys working in Oman. Contact 98687021 Kerala Nair boy, 31, B.Tech, star Bharani, working in Oman, 98212058 Kerala RC boy, 29, 5.9.

Contact 98917545 Hindu Ezhava, family settled in Muscat looking for suitable groom for their daughter, 24 yrs, MBA-HR presently working (preferably BE, B.Tech, MBA Professional).

Contact 95693133 Indian Doctor, Businessman looking for working lady in Oman for marriage, any nationality, Muslim preference self. Contact 96290792

GOOD NEWS Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis, massage, steam bath, obesity, spondy hills, ideal care Ayurvedic Clinic, 18 November Street, Azaiba. Contact 99639695 / 99117987 Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam).

Contact 24475280 / 95371554 / 92504980 , www.siddhayur.com 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

SIT.WANTED Indian female MCA., M. Phil in computer Science having 5 yrs of experience in teaching(as Lecturer) seeking for teaching position in school or college. Can join immediately. Contact :97765173.

Email:dtkthillai@gmail.com Male senior accountant with 20+ years experience readily available.

6 years experience in construction industry Oman. NOC & Oman driving license holder. 93969767

E240 Mercedes-Benz excellent condition 2005 Model Silver Color Leather interior 200,000 KMS for RO4850 (negotiable) Contact 99103098 Pajero Model 2008, fully automatic for sale. Contact 99325827 Honda Accord car – 2007 Model, 132000 KM well maintained. Very good condition. Contact: 92948999 Daihatsu Terios for sale: Excellent condition. ONLY 87,000 kms. Fully Automatic – transmission, s. New tires. New insurance and registration. V-KOOL window film. Car model is 2006 but first registered in 2008. First owner. Good 4 digit number to go with the car. RO 3500/- or nearest offer. CONTACT: 99759659 Honda Civic – 2010 model, 58000 km, expat owned well maintained, very good condition.

Contact 92640942

2010 Toyota Yaris (automatic), excellent condition. # 99737879 Jeep Grand Cherokee 2006 105000KM Expat Driven Contact 95218553 Subaru Impreza 2.0 ltr 2000 model, manual in super condition.

Contact: 99844601 PROTON GEN 2 FOR SALE: Manual Gear.Good condition. Single owner.

Silver colour. 1st registered August 2009. Full insurance till August 2015. Price OMR 1,680 Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 Lexus GS300, 2006.

Contact 93218349 2013 November model Pajero, 38000 kilometers for sale. Price negotiable. Contact 96388496 Pajero 2013. Contact 9336093

CHANGE OF NAME I Nitin Valsaraj Holder of Indian Passport Z 2432132 s/o Valsaraj M having permanent residence in B20 611 BDA Flats, Austin Town Extn, Viveknagar, Bangalore and presently residing in Flat no 12, Building No 3409, Block 338, Al Seeb, Muscat intend to marry Ms Alegna Lucille Cabe holder of Philippines Passport No. EB 8793141 d/o Francisco Bandril Cabe in EMBASSY OF INDIA, MUSCAT. I swear that I am marrying her at my own free will AND not under any duress and intimidation.

Any objection towards this marriage may please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat, Diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, P.B No 1727, P C 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman within 30 days of publication of this newspaper advertisement I SINGANAMALA HASIBULLA KHAN (Name exactly as in present passport) son of S. RASOOL KHAN, presently residing at the following address in Suwaiq, P.B. NO. 68, P.C.NO. 315, , Sultanate of Oman and having following permanent address in India FLAT NO. 211, HAPPY HOMES HEIGHTS, 4TH FLOOR, PILLER NO. 215, RAJENDRA NAGAR, HYDERABAD, (as per present passport) holder of Indian Passport NO. K8553185 date of issue 6/11/2012 place of issue HYDERABAD here by solemnly affirm and declare that JASIREE MANSHA ( name of wife appearing as my passport) and the name of my wife SHAIK JASIREE MANSHA appearing as per her Indian Passport No. M1692081 are the same individuals and not two different individuals. Any objection towards name change of my wife may please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat, Diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, P.Box. NO.1727, Postal Code 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman.

LOST Med Niham Mia Al Haq has lost Bangladeshi Passport No. E9265211.

Finder please handover to ROP

T U E S DAY, N O V E M B E R 2 5 , 2 0 1 4

D7

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

Hurry! RAMADHAN SAILING. Cargo for Zanzibar, Dar Es Salam & Mombasa. Door to door to India, Bangladesh & Pakistan. Maritime Shipping Agency. Al Jiffin, Rusayl on Fanja Road. Tel: 99323513 / 99118279.

Email: maritime@omantel.net.om

DRIVING TOURS

MANPOWER

Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise with Buffet, & Land Tours Al- Ainain Marine Tours Contact98029602, 92808636

Learn Driving from professional instructors. Contact 94022250 Learn driving automatic from scratch. Contact 98599675

NRI

BUSINESS

TRUCK FOR HIRE

Eight cents plot for sale in gated villa project Sathamugal Thivuvankulam, Cochin. #94211426

Isuzu 10 ton cargo body truck

Plot for sale: 8 cents, Block 7, Kakkanad, 2 kms from Info park, Cochin. Contact - 968 92124098

(2012 FVR) with UAE experienced driver available for long term / short term rent.

Contact: 95346950

3 bedrooms flat for rent in Mather building, Chembumukku junction, Padivattom, Cochin.

Contact - 96892124098

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

Mantri Greens, behind Mantri Mall, Malleswaram, Bangalore.

3 Bedrooms with servants room on 8th Floor, car park, 2050 sqft, for sell, Rs 2.5 Crore, First Owner.

Contact 91375741, c_soumitra@hotmail.com

50 seater bus with PDO specification for rent or lease.

Contact 99839898

TRANSPORTATION

9 Cents of residential vacant land in Valencia for immediate sale.

Contact menezesa@omantel.net. om of 92034072

Pick & drop anytime in al Khuwair.

Contact 99764307 1500 Gallon Diesel Tanker, excavators available for Hire or monthly basis. Contact 95943787

Villa for sale 2200 sq ft in 8 cent.

Kottayam. Contact: 92652534

Transportation.

Contact 99515452

For Astrological consultation, Jathakam. Contact: 99860435 / 97102599

SERVICES

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

Transportation availableContact - 95570429 Transportation. Contact 96248040

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

Coffee shop business partner required in Muscat. # 94542865

Transportation. Contact 98518979

P.R.O services. Contact 99368907

Fully organized logistic (freight forwarding) Company seeking for an investor. Contact; 95088936 / 91404330

Transportation. Contact 97838217

Contract general cleaning for offices. Ocean Center LLC Contact 99344723 Pest Control and cleaning best services – 1. Cockroach, ants, etc, 2. Tiles cleaning, marbles cleaning, floor cleaning, and carpet cleaning.

Contact 92108447, 99666505

RENT A CAR

FOR HIRE

3 Bedrooms flat for sale sea port, airport road, Cochin, discounted price. Contact 99466800

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

Transport. Contact 99664703

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation available.

Contact: 95068976

Transportation. Contact: 97897833

Transportation. Contact 96538078

Transportation Available Contact: 97180655

D8

T U E S D AY, N OV E M B E R 2 5, 2 0 1 4

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

Contact: 91262820 / 96458007

CLASSES

WEBSITE

SERVICES

WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman

COMPUTER

Cargo Truck body fabrication.

Please contact 92326955. Bridge Gulfa llc, Misfah industrial area.

AutoCAD service available including drawings for Civil, Architecture, Structural, 3D Max, MEP Drawings, Joinery and Gypsum Interior Drawings. Contact 94069123 GULF INTERNATIONAL LLC all kind of pest control. #92326955 Civil maintenance, Electrical & Plumbing work. Contact 99557080 / 96236476 Civil maintenance, electrical & plumbing work. Contact 99557080, 96236476 Split & window unit AC servicing & repairing. Contact 99557080 Window & split unit AC servicing & maintaining. Contact 96236476 Human, Resource, Management, System & other Software we supply. sayeed@swiftsoftwareservices. com, contact 99199374

House shifting transport. Contact 99657644, 98518013 Gypsum partition work. Data/ voice cabling work, telephone system, electrical work, security cameras. Koroun Trading – 92620968

Electrical Plumbing Painting Contract and Maintenance.

Contact 98456535

House Shifting. Contact 99708138 GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. # 24793614/ 99314807 For all your maintenance needs including, Painting, Plumbing, Electricity, Laying of Interlock Tiles, Marbles etc. Tel: 99383574 Mr Chandran Maintenance – A/C maintenance & servicing, fridge washing machine and dishwasher repairing, painting & cleaning services, electrical & plumbing. #99447257 / 97014234 / 24504281 Pest Control Treatments, termites, cockroaches, bedbugs. Ocean Center LLC - Contact 99344723

Waterproofing, light weight Screed, Antitermite and MS Fabrication.

Contact 92888337 Carpet and Sofa shampooing.

Ocean Center LLC – #99884591 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS- 99320217 /24788722 Door to Door Computers repair specialist laptop software Website cartridges. Contact 99199376 A.M Trading Pest control.

Contact 99067923 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS- 99320217 /24788722

For All Your Maintenance Solutions, A/c Servicing & Fixing, Painting, Cleaning, Electric. Contact. 99002390 Civil Maintenance, Painting Electric, Plumbing, Decor, Tile Fixing, Lecithin Copra Board flat stifling , Carpet Cleaning and A/C Servicing.

Contact 97897831 (Indian keralite) Split & window A/C servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089 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

We provide loading helper for lounge term contract. #92817182 Catering services We do industrial catering service, Canteen/ mess, 3 times packed meals, and all types of catering events.

Contact 92188777/ 99249899 Painting Interlock plumbing maintenance. Contact 92142319 For HT cable jointing and termination works 33KV/11KV. Contact 99056438 / Email: npgoman@gmail.com Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722