Times of Oman - November 29, 2014

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FRANCE TO RECOGNISEE PALESTINE IF TALKS FAILIL France warned on Friday it would recognise a Palestinian state if a final international effort to overcome the impasse between Israelis and Palestinians failed. >A4

SATURDAY, November 29, 2014 / 6 Safar 1436 AH

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K U WA I T

QUIZAHOLICS ANONYMOUS LIFTS TROPHY

Team Quizaholics Anonymous (Anush V Iyer, Hala P Jamal and Midhun Mukund) won the 18th edition of Times of Oman Open Quiz Contest at the Oman Automobile Association in Seeb on Thursday.

Natural Born Quizzers (Murali Ramaswamy, Karthik Narayan and Rajaram Narasimham were the first runner-up.

Eat Pray Quiz (Ananthakumar Rajamani, Avaneendra Bhargav and Meghashyam Shirodkar) were the second runner-up. Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali, chairman of the Muscat Media Group and the editor-in-chief of the Times of Oman gave away the trophies. Eight teams - Natural Born Quizzers, ISG Spartans, 3 Amigos, ISM - Quiz Wizards along with Eat Pray Quiz, Quizaholics Anonymous, Know Brainers and The Quizards of Awe - participated in the contest conducted by quizmaster Giri ‘Pickbrain’ Balasubramaniam. — Cio Datan/Times of Oman Full quiz coverage on Sunday

Specialists needed to treat elders in Oman HAVE YOUR SAY AT TWITTER.COM/ TIMESOFOMAN OR SCAN THE CODE TO INSTANTLY POST YOUR THOUGHTS.

Professionals called Geriatrics Specialists are needed to treat elders but Oman lacks these experts, says a medic of SQUH

REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Elderly people in Oman need specialists, who are trained to address their health issues, said an old age consultant psychiatrist in Sultan Qaboos University Hospital.

“In the developed countries and in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), doctors known as Geriatrics Specialists treat people aged 60 years and above. But here, we lack these experts,” Dr Hamed Al Sinawi, an old age psychiatrist who won 2014 UK’s Royal College of Psychiatrists Awards recently, told Times of Oman.

A study conducted by Sinawi and other researchers shows that the fastest growing age group is the one from 60 years and above.

The number of the elderly in Oman, which was 3 per cent of the population in 1993, rose to 3.5 per cent in 2010 and is expected to reach 15.2 per cent by 2050.

GROWING NUMBERS: The rise in the number of elders is due to

the rapid improvement of medicare in the country.

The increase is due to the rise in life expectancy brought about by the rapid economic and social developments, improvement in the standard of living and better healthcare services, says the study.

“The other challenge is the lack of social clubs for the elderly. As the social structure in Oman is moving towards a nuclear family wherein the couple work and the children attend school, it leaves the elderly on their own in the mornings with little social interaction,” said Sinawi, who has a special interest in treating patients with Alzheimer’s Disease,.

According to Sinawi, who is currently treating 60 aged people

suffering from mental illness, says that social stigma against mental illness is the biggest problem.

“Patients often shy away from telling about their family,” said Sinawi. A family in Muscat provided timely treatment to their father suffering from Alzheimer’s disease so that he recovered very fast.

“My father, who is now 79 years old, had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Due to timely treatment, he was able to overcome the illness,” said his son.

“My mother, who is 67 years old, was quite compassionate with him. It was she who took care of him. She used to keep a tab on his medication and visited doctors.

She used to bath and dress him

up. Now, he is fine. He can recollect past events and is happy and shares interesting stories with his grandchildren,” said his son.

“With care and love, we can look after our parents. And as children it is our responsibility too,” he added.

A report of the United Nation’s economic and social affairs department, says that in Oman, the percentage of the population aged 65 and over is projected to continue increasing, with the pace of increase changing after 2035. It will reach 20.9 per cent by 2050.

It had decreased from 3.2 per cent in 1970 to 2.1 per cent in 1995 and then increased to 2.5 per cent in 2005 and remained at this level in 2010.

The proportion of the population under 15 years of age has been decreasing since 1995 and is projected to continue this downward trend till 2050.

Moreover, the total dependency ratio in Oman will go up due to the expected increase in old age dependency and will reach 55 per cent in 2050. Sinawi, who joined Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) Behavioural Medicine department in 1996, was awarded Public Educator of the Year 2014 for his work with the elderly in Oman by the UK’s Royal College of Psychiatrists.

HM sends condolences MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of condolences to His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jabir Al Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, on the death of Sheikh Talal Nasser Sabah Al Nasser Al Mubarak Al Sabah.

In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere condolences and sympathy to Sheikh Sabah and Al Sabah family, praying to the Almighty Allah to rest his soul in peace and grant his family patience to bear the loss.—ONA I D E A F L OAT E D

GCC plans Gulf Interpol Times News Service MUSCAT: Gulf Cooperation Council interior ministers mooted the idea of a police system on the lines of the Interpol at a meeting in Kuwait recently.

Based in Abu Dhabi and named Gulf Interpol, it would promote security in the region, said the ministers. >A3

BEST IN ASIA

Oman hires more than 300 doctors from Bangladesh Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman has recruited more than 300 doctors from Bangladesh recently, according to Bangladesh Overseas Employment Services Limited (Boesl), a government-sponsored recruiting agency, which handles the recruitment process in Bangladesh.

Commenting on the recruitment, President of Bangladesh Social club, Mohammed Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan, said that most of these doctors have been posted in government hospitals, including Royal Hospital and Khoula Hospital in Muscat.

“Besides this, another 30 to 50 doctors have been already recruited from Bangladesh and they are waiting for their visas and other necessary clearances from the government,” he told Times of Oman on Friday.

Apart from doctors, a large number of nurses were also recruited from various places in Bangladesh. “Apart from the allopathic MBBS doctors, some homoeopathic doctors have also been recruited,” said Bhuiyan.

Last year, during a meeting hosted by Majlis Al Shura, Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Obaid Al Saeedi, minister of health, had said that the country may face a shortage of nearly 8,900 medical practitioners by 2015.

“Oman will meet the shortage of doctors and nurses by bringing in 3,288 doctors and nurses from outside,” he had said.

T I T - F O R - TAT

Bangladesh Social club President Mohammed Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan.

Statistics from the ministry show that the estimated number of doctors required in 2015 is 4,464, but Oman can provide only 1,176 doctors, and the ministry will need to cover the shortfall.

Dr Ahmed Al Saeedi said that the ministry would need to employ 5,598 nurses by 2015.

Bhuiyan claimed that Bangladesh doctors are one of the best in the Asia. “From Royal Hospital to Khoula Hospital, they are everywhere,” he said. Recently, they have performed some of the important surgeries in Oman.

He also said that Boesl is handling the recruitment process of in Dhaka.

“They are doing recruitment as interested doctors and nurses do not want to go through private recruiting agencies, which charge huge amounts of money for processing visas,” he added.

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

Citizens for naming foreign OMAN Disaster response tips nationals arrested in Oman 1 A disaster management symposium, held at Quriyat, focused on the theme ‘Be Prepared, Be Ready’. >A2

FAHAD AL GHADANI

fahadnews@timesofoman.com

State memorial service to honour Hughes next week

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MUSCAT: With some Arab newspapers naming Omanis who get arrested abroad in criminal offences, angry citizens have asked authorities concerned to name the nationalities of those arrested in the Sultanate.

According to an Egyptian newspaper Al Watan News, a 31-year-old Omani was held two days ago in Egypt for dealing in drugs. The newspaper named the Omani national and another accused, who had entered the country on September 29, 2012 with

26 packets of hashish, heroin, 500 Egyptian pounds (EGP) and two cell phones. They were arrested in Sharm el Sheikh. During investigations, the accused confessed to their crime and were sent to prosecution for trial.

The news was splashed on twitter and agitated Omanis asked why the name and nationalities of the accused were revealed.

Ali Al Khaldi, a Muscat resident, said that when Omani newspapers carry such reports they only mention the continent of the accused, such as Asia or Africa. He added that there should be an agreement among

the countries, especially Arab nations, to decide whether they should reveal the nationality of the accused or not.

Saleem Al Salti, a Muscat resident, criticised neighbouring countries for revealing the nationalities of the accused.

“We don’t have to go far. Three months ago, a very close neighbour named an Omani accused,” said Al Salti.

He added that the neighbour not only named the accused and mentioned his nationality, but also allowed the person’s photograph to be published alongwith the news. >A3

OMAN

Literary dreams A promising young novelist

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and her poetic uncle have turned to self-publishing to fulfil their literary dreams. >A3

MARKET

Cut inForinvestments the oil firms, the

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crash in crude prices will probably mean scrapping investment plans. >B1

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SATU RDAY, NOVEMB ER 29, 2014

OMAN

It’s about my emotional journey through the years... they are very personal but these ones I can share >A3 Syed Akhtar Naved, Author of Story of the Soul

MEDICAL CONFERENCE

Oncology services set to undergo major upgrade Times News Service MUSCAT: A conference focusing on breast, lung, genito-urinary tract and intestines will open in the capital on Sunday.

The National Oncology Centre at the Royal Hospital, under the patronage of the Ministry of Health and in collaboration with Oman Cancer Association, will be holding the 6th Muscat International Oncology Conference and 3rd Oman Cancer Association Conference.

Dr Bassim Al Bahrani, director of National Oncology Centre and chairman of the organising committee said that the two-day event, which is held annually, is one of the biggest educational events in the Gulf related to cancer diagnosis and treatment, and attracts more than 200 delegates.

This year’s conference is of special significance as the National Oncology Centre is celebrating the tenth year of its existence.

The NOC has now evolved into a comprehensive centre with stateof-the-art departments for radiation oncology, nuclear medicine, paediatric oncology and medical oncology. The centre has been granted accreditation by international organisations such as International Union against Cancer (UICC) and European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) in the year 2013-14.

The National Oncology Centre has very many ‘firsts’ to its credit.

It was the first among the GCC countries to set up stereotactic radio surgery and IMRT at the Royal Hospital, Muscat. It was also the first to provide targeted therapy. From the early years, multidisciplinary clinics in gynae oncology, ENT and breast cancer were started.

The centre has also been running combined clinics in many places including at Sultan Qaboos Hospital at Salalah. The centre has also initiated the development of satellite centres to

Disaster response lessons at Quriyat Quriyat was the most affected zone during the tropical cyclone Gonu in 2007. The symposium created awareness and to be prepared for the worst

Times News Service

A national policy for full fledged palliative care services has been formulated and will be implemented in the very near future. The radiation oncology services will undergo major upgrade Dr Bassim Al Bahrani

Director of National Oncology Centre

provide chemotherapy services from 1996.

Dr Bassim further reiterated that various steps to provide comprehensive service in early diagnosis and palliative care at a national level are under way.

A national policy for full fledged palliative care services in the Sultanate has been formulated and will be implemented in the very near future. The radiation oncology services will undergo a major upgrade with the introduction of more modern radiotherapy equipment to provide state of art treatment.

A Proton Beam Therapy facility will be set up in Muscat soon.

It will be the first of its kind in the Gulf region.

The two-day conference is being inaugurated by Dr Sultan Yarub Busaidy, adviser for health affairs at the Ministry of Health.

Speakers from five countries including Sweden, UAE and India and more than 200 delegates from in and around Oman will participate.

A trade exhibition featuring the latest advances in field of oncology is part of the conference.

There is an exclusive workshop on palliative care by Pallium India which is a WHO-recognised centre of excellence for palliative care and pain relief.

MUSCAT: A disaster management symposium, which was held at Quriyat, focused on the theme ‘Be Prepared, Be Ready’.

Since Quriyat was the most affected zone during the tropical cyclone Gonu in 2007, this symposium was held to create awareness and to be prepared for the worst disaster.

The workshop was organised by the nursing department under their head Shamsa Al Malki of Quriyat wilayat and Dr Khoula Al Houti, director of health services, Quriyat Hospital at Al Massara Hospital.

The main discussions were on ‘What is disaster?’, ‘How to be prepared?’, ‘Team work’ and ‘Response, recovery and mitigation’.

The event began with an introduction of the symposium by Suresh, a radiographer at the Quriyat Hospital. There was a visual presentation of disasters that have occurred in the past few centuries such as storms, floods and volcanic eruptions, to the modern day nuclear disasters and air crashes.

This was followed by a welcome address by Dr Al Hooti. The chief guest for the event was Dr Qasim Ahmed Al Salmi, director of gen-

ALERT SOUNDED: The main discussions were on ‘What is disaster?’, ‘How to be prepared?’, ‘Team work’ and ‘Response, recovery and mitigation’.– Supplied photo

eral services, Royal Hospital. Dr Khoula welcomed the chief guest and mementos were given to all the speakers and the chief guest.

The first session began with Hamad Al Hamdi, a tutor at the Oman Specialised Nursing Institute (OSNI) as the moderator.

The first speaker, Nader Al Rumhi, director of forecasting and observing practices, spoke of the role of the media during a disaster. The next speaker was Dr Mahmood Al Rahbi, HOD, ED at Al Nahdha Hospital, who spoke on the development of an emergency plan and touched on the steps of a dynamic process.

Dr Idris Saleh Ali, acting director of the Department of Communicable Disease Surveillance & Control, spoke on an outbreak and how one should be prepared, and then detect, confirm, response and evaluate during such a disaster.

A public health response plan was being prepared, he said. This was followed by an interactive session between speakers and the audience.

The second dwelt on the issue of disaster management by Hamad, a tutor at OSNI with the latest updates. The last disaster drill was

conducted at Sohar Airport before it opened. This was followed by Dr Khoula’s talk on the overview and experience of Quriyat Wilayat during a disaster. A video showing the Quriyat experience during Gonu brought back old memories.

There was a panel discussion followed by the third session moderated by Suresh.

The next programme was a community-based approach during a disaster by Dr Manel Abdul Majeed, a tutor at OSNI and the first PHD holder in Oman in community nursing. She enlightened everyone with her presentation and the importance of one plan for the entire Oman while tackling a disaster. Mohammad Al Wahabi and Wadah Al Lezami showed a video on disaster. The last topic on disaster management action was

by Lt. Al Yaqdhan Al Siyabi, disaster management and emergency planning officer. He spoke about the National Committee of Civil Defence.

The session ended with a vote of thanks by Kareema Al Ghazeli, staff development officer, Quriyat Hospital. Mementos were presented to all the organisers by Dr Khoula and Shamsa Al Malki.

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CRIME PROTOCOL

TEACHERS TURN ENTERTAINERS ON CHILDREN’S DAY The teachers of Indian School, Ghubra presented a colourful programme on the occasion of Children’s Day. The day commenced with the Special Assembly conducted by teachers followed by a presentation which highlighted the participation of students in various activities. The theme ‘Cultural Melange’ was dealt with elaborately by the teachers, who showcased the culture and festivals of India.— Supplied photo

A1 ‘Naming accused Omanis in < FROM

Arab countries not acceptable’

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“It is okay if an Omani gets caught in a non-Arab country and his name or nationality is announced, but for friendly Arab countries to do that is just not acceptable,” said Al Salti.

“In the case of the Egyptian newspaper, it only carried the initials of the Omani’s name. However, in another case that occurred last year they put the full name,” said Soud Al Salmi, a Barka resident. He also felt that there was no need to mention either names or nationalities of accused from other countries.

Soud referred to a report that appeared in Egypt’s Ahram newspaper of an Omani woman getting REGIONAL SECURITY

< FROM

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Writers turn to self-publishing to fulfil dreams A literary uncle and his niece took to self-publishing their works both as e-books and paperbacks

SARAH MACDONALD sarah@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: A promising young novelist and her poetic uncle have turned to self-publishing as a way to fulfil their literary dreams.

Sarah Syed, a 16-year-old Pakistani who was born and raised in Muscat, and her uncle Akhtar Naveed Syed, who has lived here since 2005, are from a family that includes poets and authors.

Both have written since they were children and recently they both decided to publish their books themselves, both as e-books and paperbacks, using Partridge, a division of Penguin Random House Company that allows anyone to finance their own publishing.

“You fulfilled my dream, since if your book wasn’t there I wouldn’t have gone for it,” Akhtar told Sarah Syed during an in interview with Times of Oman.

“It’s a passion and a way to feel like a bit of celebrity, just in your mind,” he added.

Sarah’s novel, Resuming History, is the story of a teenage girl Alex who is swept into a mysterious adventure in an alternate, magical world in which she has to save her little sister from evil and in so doing, finds romance with an unexpected boy.

The story was inspired by her friends and a couple of characters were based on her friends. The story seemed to evolve on its own as she wrote it, though, since she didn’t have a structured plan beforehand, explained Sarah, who is a fan of the Harry Potter books and The Hunger Games.

She wrote the 125-page book over a period of three weeks this summer, in and around her O-level exams and during her holidays.

She had been posting chapters on an online site and had hundreds of people read them.

“People liked and my friends liked it so I completed the book. I thought that people won’t like it, but I got reads so I completed it.

In two weeks I got 200 reads, and in one month 500,” Sarah said.

After writing the book she vis-

I was screaming, I was so happy! I couldn’t believe it because we thought maybe it was a fake company or something and they would just take the money and run away. When the book actually came we were like really excited Sarah Syed

Author of ‘Resuming History’

ited the Partridge website and after questioning the publishers about the site’s validity, decided to give self-publishing a try, with financial support from her parents, who are very proud of her writing abilities. By August 15 her book was a reality.

“I was screaming, I was so happy! I couldn’t believe it because we thought maybe it was a fake company or something and they would just take the money and run away. When the book actually came we were like really excited,” she recalled.

Akhtar’s collection of poetry, Story of the Soul, includes 67 poems written between 2006 and 2014. Deeply personal, they reflect Akhtar’s musing on life and feminism, and were a therapeutic way to ease the effects of depression.

“It’s about my emotional journey through the years. It has helped me get back to more or less normal. They are very personal but these ones I can share,” Akhtar said of his book.

There are a number of reoccurring themes and images in Akhtar’s poetry, including dreams, thoughts and minds, souls, mermaids and other mythical creatures. He said he was often inspired while spending time

at Shatti Beach, near the Grand Hyatt, where the sea spoke to his soul.

“I consider myself a merman,” he admitted, adding that he also lived near the sea as a child in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and has long had a fascination with mermaids, which are common in many cultures.

He had been thinking of publishing his poems for the past three years but was worried about the validity of the self-publishing sites. When he saw Sarah’s book, he was inspired to publish Story of the Soul, too. When Akhtar got the first copy of his book, he celebrated by going to the movies.

“I was happy but shocked!” he said.

One of the reasons Sarah and Akhtar opted for self-publishing was because it meant they could publish their books as they saw fit, without having changes made by editors.

“I thought about that but I was scared they would change some stuff and I didn’t want them to change anything,” said Sarah.

Akhtar added that the publishers have a quality control to ensure a certain standard of writing but agreed with his niece’s perspective that his writing shouldn’t be edited by someone else.

Interpol for GCC nations

He also stated that the head of the agency, would be in office for three years at the end of which someone else from another GCC member state would take his place, according to the decision of the secretary-general.

The project is subject to implementation of shared database of GCC countries. Also, one person from each country will be the link between his country and the Gulf police for exchange of any information.

He also explained that the decision to create a unified police system will be approved by the GCC foreign ministers during their meeting that precedes the 35th GCC summit in Doha next December.Hazza Al Hajri, assistant secretary-general for security affairs of the GCC, announced the appointment of Colonel Mubarak Al Khaili, from the UAE as the chairman of the group.

arrested last year on May 31, 2013, while trying to smuggle huge quantities of drugs into Alexandria.

The report said that the woman named three drugs dealers in Egypt. However, the newspaper named only the Omani accused in the report. She was arrested for possession of five kilos of heroin and EGP4 million.

Numerous citizens have called on the authorities to adopt the same policy that others have when reporting names and nationalities of Omani accused.

Rashid Khalfan, a Muscat resident, insisted that the authorities, especially the Royal Oman Police (ROP), should mention the names

and nationalities of offenders from other countries in the local news.

“We do not have to hide such information if other countries do the same,” said Rashid. He added that naming nationalities created a negative image of citizens which in turn helped to deal with people from certain countries who frequently violated the law.

A reliable source who spoke to an official of the ROP said they had clear instructions against naming the nationalities of accused expatriates. He also said that they had received recommendations from the public to name accused nationals, but high-ranking officials had rejected such a request.

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SATU RDAY, NOVEMB ER 29, 2014

REGION

If this final effort to reach a negotiated solution fails, then France will have to do what it takes by recognising without delay the Palestinian state. We are ready.

Laurent Fabius, French Foreign Minister

France to back Palestinian state if peace talks fail

VISIT

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahayan. – File photograph

Paris proposes

resolution

Abu Dhabi crown prince visits Qatar

PARIS: France warned on Friday it would recognise a Palestinian state if a final international effort to overcome the impasse between Israelis and Palestinians failed, and proposed a two-year timeframe to end the conflict through a UN-backed resolution.

Lawmakers will hold a symbolic parliamentary vote on December 2 on whether the French government should recognise Palestine as a state, a move that the Israeli Prime Minister has called a “grave mistake”.

“If this final effort to reach a negotiated solution fails, then France will have to do what it takes by recognising without delay the Palestinian state. We are ready,” Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told parliament.

The parliamentary vote has raised domestic political pressure for the government to be more active on the issue. An IFOP poll showed 63 per cent of French support a Palestinian state.

Fabius told deputies that, were they to adopt the motion, it would not change Paris’ immediate diplomatic stance.

But he said that, after similar moves in Sweden, Britain, Ireland and Spain, Paris could not ignore the “never-ending” conflict

DUBAI: Abu Dhabi’s crown prince paid a brief visit to Qatar on Friday, official media said before a regional summit they are to hold in Doha next month.

The trip by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahayan was the first since the United Arab Emirates along with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain withdrew their ambassadors from Qatar in March.

The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain agreed at an emergency meeting in Riyadh on November 16 to return their ambassadors to Qatar.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit is to be held on December 9-10. Qatar currently holds the revolving presidency.

The UAE state news agency WAM said His Highness Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar greeted Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed and a delegation of senior officials accompanying him on their arrival.

Qatar’s QNA news agency said the two leaders discussed “the fraternal relations between the two brotherly countries, ways to consolidate them and prospects of reinforcing them” as well as GCC and regional issues. Sheikh Mohammed later returned to Abu Dhabi, it said. At the November 16 Riyadh meeting, GCC leaders said they had agreed to turn over a new page in relations within the alliance. — Reuters

two-year deadline to end conflict through United Nations

FIGHT FOR RIGHT: A Palestinian protester argues with an Israeli soldier during clashes following a protest against Jewish settlements,

near the occupied West Bank city of Jericho, on Friday. – Reuters

that was playing into extremists’ hands. “There needs to be support, some would say pressure, from the international community to help the two sides make the final step to peace,” Fabius said.

Palestinians seek statehood in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and blockaded Gaza Strip with annexed East Jerusalem as their capital - lands captured by Israel in a 1967 war.

The latest round of efforts to forge a two-state solution collapsed in April. Palestinians see little choice but to push unilaterally for statehood.

Fabius said Paris was working to get a United Nations Security Council resolution adopted that would relaunch and conclude negotiations within two years.

Diplomats have said France, Britain and Germany are prepar-

ing a text that could be accelerated if a separate resolution drafted

by Palestinians, and calling for an end to Israeli occupation by November 2016, is put forward.

“We must fix a calendar because without one how do you convince anybody that it won’t just be another process?” Fabius said.

He proposed that in parallel a conference be held with regional actors, European Union, Arab

League and major powers.

He did not specify at what stage France could decide to back a Palestinian state, but a diplomat said that it could happen anytime if Paris felt negotiations were dead.

France does not classify Palestine as a state, but has supported Palestine’s membership of Unesco and its non-member observer country status at the United Nations. — Reuters

INSURGENCY

Syria criticises US, denies its forces targeting civilians BEIRUT/ANKARA: Syria rejected as “fabricated” US accusations that its forces are targeting civilians with air strikes and said Washington would do better to criticise hardline IS militants who have killed American citizens.

The US State Department said on Wednesday it was “horrified”

by Syrian government bombings in Raqqa province which it said had killed “dozens of civilians and demolished residential areas”.

“The Syrian Arab Army does not target civilians and will not do so,” the state news agency Sana quoted Information Minister Omran Al Zoubi as saying late on Thursday.

He said Washington was getting its information from “terrorist organisations” operating in Syria such as IS and Al Qaeda’s Nusra Front. Tuesday’s government strikes on the northern Raqqa province killed 95 civilians, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

TERRORISED: A Syrian man reacts following reported air strikes by government forces in the Syrian

city of Raqqa, a stronghold of the IS, on Thursday. – AFP

Raqqa province is the stronghold of IS, a hardline Al Qaeda offshoot which has seized land in Syria and neighbouring Iraq.

Both the Syrian air force and

US-led forces are bombing Syria in separate air campaigns and both say they are targeting militant groups. “The US State Department should rather have shown respect

for the souls of American victims at the hands of terrorists from the Daesh (IS) organisation and not directed fabricated accusations towards the Syrian state which has

been facing terrorism for years,” Zoubi was quoted by Sana as saying. Three US civilians - two journalists and an aid worker - have been beheaded by IS. Zoubi said the US statement on Wednesday had ignored crimes committed by IS, adding that Syria was more committed to its people than countries which send money and weapons to “terrorists” and train them. The government of President Bashar Al Assad has characterised all opponents of his rule as extremists.

“Everyone has to choose between two options - either you are with terrorism, Daesh, Nusra Front and others or you are countering terrorism,” Zoubi said.

The United Nations estimates that some 200,000 people have been killed in Syria’s civil war since 2011, though activists say the real figure is much higher.

Meanwhile, in Ankara, Pope Francis called for an end to all

forms of fundamentalism and said fighting hunger and poverty, rather than military intervention alone, were key to stopping militants carrying out “grave persecutions” in Syria and Iraq.

Speaking at the start of a threeday trip to Turkey, Francis said “terrorist violence” showed no sign of abating in Turkey’s southern neighbours, where insurgents had declared a caliphate and persecuted others who do not share their ultra-radical brand of religion.

“It is licit, while always respecting international law, to stop an unjust aggressor,” the pope said in reference to the IS militants after a meeting with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.

“What is required is a concerted commitment on the part of all ... (to) enable resources to be directed, not to weaponry, but to the other noble battles worthy of man: the fight against hunger and sickness,” he said. — Reuters

VIOLENCE

Brigadier general shot dead, two others killed in Cairo CAIRO: An army brigadier general was shot dead by unknown assailants in the Cairo district of Gesr Al Suez, security sources said on Friday even as two people were killed in clashes between hardline protesters and Egyptian police in Cairo on Friday, security officials said.

The army officer was killed and two others wounded when gunmen opened fire in a parking garage before fleeing the scene, the state news agency Mena said, citing an army statement.

Meanwhile, the army and police had fanned out across the capital in anticipation of rallies called by a hardline group, and police quickly moved in to quash the small gatherings after they began outside mosques.

In the working class district of Matariya, at least two people were killed when protesters clashed with police, health and security officials said. A health ministry official said one protester had been shot in the chest. A friend identified him as Mohammed

UP IN ARMS: Supporters of Muslim Brotherhood and ousted Egyp-

tian president Mohamed Morsi shout slogans against the military and the interior ministry, in Cairo, on Friday. – Reuters

Hassan, and said he was a hardliner who regularly attended anti-government demonstrations.

“The police fired randomly at the protesters,” he said.

However, the interior ministry said police came under fire from the protesters, and officers arrested one of them carrying a shotgun.

Egypt is facing an insurgency in

which hundreds of security officers have been killed since Muslim Brotherhood president Mohamed Morsi was ousted last summer.

The insurgency is concentrated in parts of the increasingly lawless Sinai Peninsula, where the government has imposed emergency law following an attack on security forces. — Agencies

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PROTEST OVER RURAL JOB SCHEME

Shiv Sena, BJP start power-sharing talks

Trinamool Congress members of Parliament stage protest over the issue of Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) at Parliament during the winter session, in New Delhi, on Friday. Continuing to voice her criticism over the reported move by the Centre to dilute provisions of the MNREGA Act, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said she would take her fight to Delhi. - PTI

39 Indians held hostage in Iraq by IS alive, safe External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told Parliament that the government was continuously receiving intelligence from its sources in the region that the missing Indians had not been killed by the IS militants

S. MOITRA

Our Correspondent NEW DELHI: India on Friday said that 39 of its nationals, who went missing in Iraq in June this year, “are alive and safe.”

Refuting media reports, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told Parliament that the

government was continuously receiving intelligence from its sources in the region that the missing Indians were not killed by the IS militants.

“There is no evidence to support a media report that the 39 Indians have been killed by IS militants.

The same allegation has been reported in different newspapers…

We do not trust these reports, and we continue to make every effort to locate the Indians and bring them back safely,” said Swaraj.

Kidnapped in Mosul She added, “At least six sources have told us that they have not been killed. It is not just verbal but written information. As I could have shown it only to those who had taken the oath of secrecy of office like me, I showed it to Arun Jaitley and Harsimrat Kaur Badal.”

However, Swaraj refused to disclose the identity of the sources. “If their cover is blown, then they will be assassinated within 24 hours,” she said.

In fact, Swaraj’s statements came in the wake of allegations by the main opposition Congress party that the government had lied to the nation on the fate of the Indian nationals, following a media re-

RETURN OF DEPOSITORS’ MONEY

Sahara’s fresh plea in SC for Subrato Roy’s release NEW DELHI: Sahara Group on Friday came out another plea for the release of its jailed chief Subrato Roy before the Supreme Court which asked those involved in the negotiation processes for sale of its three offshore hotels to prove their bona fide in raising the money to get him out.

Roy, who was sent to jail on March 4 this year for non- refund of over Rs200 billion with interest to depositors, was asked by the court to pay Rs100 billion to get bail, out of which Rs50 billion should be paid in cash and rest of the amount in bank guarantee.

Sahara, which earlier had raised Rs3,117 crore and deposited with Security and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), on Friday told a bench headed by Justice T. S. Thakur that out of nine domestic assets it has now sold an Ahmedabad property and raised Rs411.82 crores which has also gone into account of the market regulator.

Failed endeavours In this background, Sahara’ counsel S. Ganesh submitted that after failed endeavours, the Group has made some achievements in its bid to sell its three overseas hotels — Dream Downtown and The Plaza in New York and Grosvenor House in London--for

Subrato Roy

which there is a need to amend the “terms and conditions” relating to loan and other transactions.

He further said that the Bank of China, which had lent money to it in purchasing stakes in overseas hotels, recently raised issues leading to a development in which the Sahara group has entered into an agreement with another firm for the take over of the loan.

The lawyer further said that a tripartite agreement is on the anvil which will lead to grant of a loan by a “junior”lender at a much higher interest rate and if the deal fructifies, then $650 million would be generated.

The bench, also comprising justices A R Dave and A K Sikri, deliberated upon the concept of escrow account and sought in-

volvement of asset management agencies to ascertain the value of the amount, likely to be fetched, from the sale of the domestic properties.

“Ask the junior lender to deposit significant sum in the escrow account to show that we get confidence that the amount is coming,” the bench said taking note of Sahara’s plea that the amount would be utilised for the payment in Sebi-Sahara Refund Account to comply with court’s directions.

The court, on being asked by the Sebi, ordered the Sahara group to provide a copy of the escrow agreement to the market regulator and posted the matter for further hearing on next Friday.

During the hearing, the bench also made queries on the recent Income Tax raids at the premises of Sahara group in national capital and wondered, “how Rs 146 crore was recovered?”.

When Ganesh said that the amount was for payment of salaries to the employees for three months and was accounted for, the bench said, “why the amount will come to Delhi and then go other parts of the country for distribution.” Earlier, the Sebi had moved the court seeking its direction to Sahara group to give a time schedule for payment of Rs470 billion to it. - PTI

port. A private news channel, ‘ABP News’, ran a story on Thursday night claiming that in Erbil in Iraq, its reporter met with two Bangladeshi construction workers, one of whom said that of 40 Indians taken hostage by the IS militants earlier this year only one had managed to escape while the rest had been killed.

However, the foreign minister said, “There are many holes in his story. We had two options. Either to believe his version and stop the search or not accept his version at face value and continue the search.”

The Indians, who used to work with a Turkish construction company in Iraq, were kidnapped in Mosul, the civil war-hit country’s second largest city, after it fell to the IS. No ransom demand has been made so far to the Indian government.

MUMBAI: BJP is understood to have offered five Cabinet berths and an equal number of Minister of State posts to Shiv Sena in its Government in Maharashtra as the estranged allies on Friday began talks to chalk out a powersharing formula after days of acrimony.

BJP leaders Dharmendra Pradhan and Chandrakant Patil on Friday met the Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray at his residence here to thrash out a power-sharing arrangement between the saffron outfits, who parted ways on the eve of October Assembly polls after 25 years of partnership.

Pradhan is a Union Minister, while Patil is a member of the Devendra Fadnavis Cabinet in Maharashtra, where BJP Government won a controversial trust vote earlier this month.

BJP has offered five Cabinet and as many Minister of State berths to Sena in the round one of talks, highly-placed sources in the ruling party said.

“It was decided that we will offer the Shiv Sena five Cabinet berths and five MoS berths.

This is what we can offer as far as Ministries are concerned. But yes, we are willing to negotiate on the number of state-run corporations (chairmanship) that we can offer to them (Sena),” they said.

The sources, however, refused to disclose the portfolios that have been offered to Shiv Sena, which had earlier insisted on Deputy Chief Minister’s post, a demand turned down by BJP. Talks between the former allies resumed after a gap of almost a month since the BJP Government came to power, a period during which leaders from both sides traded charges.

NCP had offered unconditional outside support to the minority Government, but the BJP has maintained an ambiguous stand on taking backing of the Sharad Pawar-led party, which was attacked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of corruption during campaigning for the Assembly polls.

BJP was reportedly forced to resume talks with its estranged ally after facing flak from various quarters for being seen as taking support of NCP. - PTI

‘80:20’ SCHEME

Government eases curbs on gold import NEW DELHI: Easing the restrictions on gold imports, the government has done away with the ‘80:20’ scheme, freeing incoming shipments of the precious metal from exports.

Under the 80:20 norms, 20 per cent of the imported gold had to be exported before bringing in new lot. “We believe the move will do away with the distortions and calm the market which was anticipating some curbs to restrict gold imports,” an official

said, adding this would help reduce imports. Sources said the 80:20 scheme was “working” as gold imports had slowed, but the shipments surged after certain relaxations were given by then UPA government.

The 80:20 scheme was put in place in August 2013 to curb gold imports, considered a major cause for the widening current account deficit. Gold imports jumped 280 per cent to $4.17 billion in October, data showed. -PTI

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SATU RDAY, NOVEMB ER 29, 2014

INDIA

100,000

People who were exposed to the gas (leak in Bohpal) continue to suffer today with sicknesses such as cancer, blindness, respiratory problems, immune and neurological disorders. Some children born to survivors have mental or physical disabilities

Five civilians among 12 killed in Arnia encounter The Arnia encounter has ended and boys did a good job by preventing the militants from striking anywhere, police said

JAMMU: The encounter in Arnia sector of Jammu region close to India-Pakistan border ended on Friday after the remaining fourth militant was gunned down by security forces during the terror attack on an Army patrol that in all left 12 people dead including five civilians and three army personnel.

“The encounter has ended and boys did a good job by preventing the militants from striking anywhere,” Director General of Indian-administered Kashmir Police K Rajendra said here.

“In all, we have lost three Army personnel and five civilians. All the

FLEEING TO SAFETY: Women and children move to safer areas during an encounter between army jawans and militants at Pindi village of Arnia sector, in Jammu, on Thursday. - PTI

four militants have been killed,” he said, after the end of the encounter this morning which lasted over 24 hours following the militant attack.

On Thursday, it was stated that four militants were killed and one

more was still holed up in an army bunker which came under attack.

Officials said on Friday there was some confusion on establishing the identity of one of the dead.

The operation to neutralise the

militants began yesterday morning and went on throughout the day but was suspended during the night. An Army official said that security forces, who had launched a cordon and search operation at the site of encounter in Arnia this morning to retrieve bodies of the civilians, came under fire from a militant holed up in a bunker triggering fresh exchanges in which he was killed.

Piecing together the events that led to the attack, sources in the security establishment said all the four terrorists had entered India during the night of November 26 and 27 and were hiding behind a culvert when they were spotted by Territorial Army personnel.

A fierce gunbattle then ensued and the terrorists who were in combat fatigues later entered two abandoned bunkers and remained holed up before three of them were neutralised.

Security officials suspected that the militants wanted to carry out a sensational strike in the winter capital of Indian-administered-Kashmir to coincide with the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who held a poll rally in Udhampur on Friday.

The venue of the rally was about 100km from Arnia. - PTI

BELIEVED KILLED

Mumbai youth who joined IS returns home; grilled by NIA MUMBAI: Twenty-three-yearold Arif Majeed from neighbouring Kalyan, who until now was believed to have been killed while fighting for IS in Syria, returned to Mumbai on Friday and is being interrogated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) here.

In May this year, four youths from Kalyan town — Arif Majeed, Shaheen Tanki, Fahad Shaikh and Aman Tandel — had left India to visit holy places in the Middle East, but disappeared thereafter.

They were suspected to have joined IS militant group.

Arif returned this morning and is being quizzed by the NIA, a police officer said. His family friend Iftekhar Khan said, “Arif’s father Ejaz received a phone call from security agencies this morning saying his son is in Mumbai.”

Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) which had earlier questioned the family members of the youths, is also in touch with the NIA over the return of Arif to Mumbai, sources said.

According to police, the four engineering students flew to Baghdad on May 23 as part of a group of 22 pilgrims to visit religious shrines in Iraq.

The next day, Arif had called

his family from Baghdad and apologised for having left without informing them.

Upon returning to India, other pilgrims had told the police that Arif, Fahad, Aman and Saheen had hired a taxi to Fallujah, a city west of Baghdad which had emerged as the epicentre of Iraq’s deadly insurgency.

“On August 26, Tanki called up Arif’s family and told them that their son had become a “martyr” claiming that the latter died fighting for IS in Syria,” a family friend Ateek Khan had told reporters.

Accordingly the next day, Arif’s family performed prayers for the departed soul in absence of the body in Kalyan.

Recently, Arif’s father Ejaz Majeed had reportedly met the NIA and told them his son had fled from the IS-controlled areas to Turkey after fighting for the militant group for nearly three months and wants to return to India. -PTI

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EXPOSED TO THE GAS

Bhopal’s toxic legacy lives on, 30 years after industrial disaster BHOPAL/NEW DELHI: Beyond the iron gates of the derelict pesticide plant where one of the world’s worst industrial disasters occurred, administrative buildings lie in ruins, vegetation overgrown and warehouses bolted.

Massive vessels, interconnected by a multitude of corroded pipes that once carried chemical slurries, have rusted beyond repair.

In the dusty control room, a soiled sticker on a wall panel reads “Safety is everyone’s business”.

On the night of December 2, 1984, the factory owned by the US multinational Union Carbide Corporation accidentally leaked cyanide gas into the air, killing thousands of people in the central city of Bhopal.

Thirty years later, the toxic legacy of this factory lives on, say human rights groups, as thousands of tonnes of hazardous waste remains buried underground, slowly poisoning the drinking water of more than 50,000 people and affecting their health.

Waste disposal Activists want this waste removed and disposed of away from the area, and feel Indian authorities, who now own the site, have fumbled on taking action — either by clearing up the waste itself or in pursuing Union Carbide to take responsibility.

“There is a very high prevalence of anaemia in girls and painful skin conditions. But what is most pro-

STARK REMINDER: General view of a neighbourhood next to the abandoned former Union Carbide

pesticide plant in Bhopal November 15. On the night of December 2, 1984, the factory owned by the US multinational Union Carbide Corporation accidentally leaked cyanide gas into the air, killing thousands of people in the central city of Bhopal. - Reuters

nounced is the number of children with birth defects,” said activist Satinath Sarangi from the Bhopal Medical Appeal which runs a clinic for gas victims.

“Children are born with conditions such as twisted limbs, brain damage, musculoskeletal disorders... this is what we see in every fourth or fifth household in these communities.”

Sarangi admits there has been no long-term epidemiological research which conclusively proves that birth defects are directly re-

lated to the drinking of the contaminated water.

Built in 1969, the Union Carbide plant in Madhya Pradesh state was seen as a symbol of a new industrialised India, generating thousands of jobs for the poor and, at the same time, manufacturing cheap pesticides for millions of farmers.

Fifteen years later, 40 tonnes of Methyl Isocyanate gas was released and carried by the wind to the surrounding densely populated disaster remains unclear and under debate. The government re-

corded 5,295 deaths, but activists claim 25,000 people died in the aftermath and following years.

Another 100,000 people who were exposed to the gas continue to suffer today with sicknesses such as cancer, blindness, respiratory problems, immune and neurological disorders. Some children born to survivors have mental or physical disabilities.

While those directly affected receive free medical health care, activists say authorities have failed to support those sick from drink-

ing the contaminated water and a second generation of children born with birth defects.

In a rehabilitation centre run by the charity Chingari Trust, located 500 metres from the factory site, disabled children aged between 6 months and 12 years gather for treatment which ranges from speech and hearing issues to physiotherapy.

“Our life changed emotionally and physically since we got to know about his medical problem when was just four months old,” said 26-year-old Sufia, cradling her two-year-old son Mustafa who has cerebral palsy.

“We had to stop the therapy when he was eight-months-old as it was very expensive. My husband is an electrician and doesn’t earn much.

“With the centre it is good as it’s free. It’s also good to meet other mothers with their children and realise that I am not alone.”

The government was forced to recognise the water was contaminated in 2012 when the Supreme Court ordered that clean drinking water be supplied to some 22 communities living around the factory site.

“I don’t think there is any doubt now that the waste dumped

by Union Carbide is a serious problem and that it needs to be dealt with urgently,” said Sunita Narain, director of the Delhibased think-tank Centre for Science and Environment.

Studies by Narain’s organisation

in 2009 found samples taken from around the factory site contained chlorinated benzene compounds and organochlorine pesticides 561 times the national standard.

Water pollution The profile of the chemicals found in samples from within the site matched the chemicals in drinking water in the outside colonies, said the report, leaving no doubt that there could be no other source of these toxins than the Union Carbide factory.

Studies since have confirmed water pollution, but the hazardous waste remains in pits in some 21 locations within the 68-acre site and buried in a wasteland outside, largely due to wrangles between authorities and activists on its disposal.

The United Nations this week welcomed a government decision to reconsider the official figure of people affected by the gas leak, and look into additional compensation, but pressed authorities to get rid of the toxic waste.

“New victims of the Bhopal disaster are born every day, and suffer life-long from adverse health impacts,” said Baskut Tuncak, United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and toxic waste.

“Without cleaning the contamination, the number of victims of the toxic legacy left by Union Carbide will continue to grow, and, together, India’s financial liability to a rising number of victims,” he added in a statement. - Reuters

S AT U R DAY, N OV E MB E R 2 9, 2 0 14

PAKISTAN

As the prime minister said in his speech yesterday, we need to focus on economic development. Good neighbourly ties have to be on the basis of equality Tasnim Aslam, Foreign ministry spokesperson

Pakistan-India talks resumption on cards Thursday’s informal interaction between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at a retreat in Kathmandu helped cool down the temperature ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India may resume the stalled peace process after the brief ‘ice-breaking’ interaction between their respective prime ministers at the concluding session of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation(Saarc) summit.

The Express Tribune has learnt through diplomatic sources that the two countries will first restore the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and the working boundary (WB) before a meeting between their foreign secretaries will be held.

India had cancelled the foreign secretaries’ talks at the last moment in August in protest against the Pakistani high commissioner’s meeting with Kashmiri lead-

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FA L L I N C R U D E P R I C E S

Fuel prices to be slashed by Rs10 ISLAMABAD: Pakistani consumers should expect a hefty cut in fuel prices following a sharp decline in the value of Brent crude, which plunged to a new low on Thursday.

A decrease of up to Rs10 per litre is likely to come into effect next month, The Express Tribune has learnt.

Earlier this month, the government slashed fuel prices by up to Rs14.68 per litre after crude prices dipped in the international market.

With a glut of crude oil coming out of the US shale reservoirs, crude prices, which dropped to $77.75 per barrel on Thursday, have provided enough breathing space for the government to reduce fuel prices in the country.

Commenting on the global trend, government officials said that domestic oil prices were likely to come down by Rs10 per litre for the month of December.

Following the expected cuts next month, the price of High Speed Diesel (HSD), which is widely used in heavy transport vehicles and the agriculture sector, is likely to come down by Rs6 per litre. Currently, it is sold at Rs101.21 per litre.

Similarly, the price of petrol could witness a cut of Rs9 per litre against its current price of Rs94.19 per litre. Kerosene oil, which is used as kitchen fuel in remote areas of the country, may record a decrease of Rs4 per litre.

Its current price is Rs87.52 per litre. - Express Tribune

M I L I TA N C Y

INFORMAL INTERACTION: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, second right shakes hands with

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the closing session of the 18th Saarc summit at City Hall in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Thursday. - AFP

ers in New Delhi. The prospect of rapprochement was further diminished when clashes broke out in October between the two militaries along the LoC and WB which left at least two dozen people, mostly civilians, on both sides of the frontier dead.

Hope Thursday’s informal interaction between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at a retreat in Kathmandu helped cool down the

temperature, according to diplomatic sources. There was no official word from either side about the ‘informal chat’ but the sources and Pakistani officials hoped this would lead to some positive development.

They also indicated that tension between the two countries would ease in the coming weeks.

One source suggested that foreign secretaries from the two countries could meet in March.

Meanwhile, at her weekly news briefing, foreign ministry spokes-

person Tasnim Aslam told reporters that Pakistan wanted peace in the neighbourhood.

“As the prime minister said in his speech yesterday, we need to focus on economic development. Good neighbourly ties have to be on the basis of equality,” Tasnim added.

She dismissed media reports that Pakistan impeded the progress of Saarc, saying Islamabad had played a very constructive role in the meetings leading up to the summit. - In exclusive arrangement with The Express Tribune

Jundullah claims attack on Quetta polio workers QUETTA: The militant groupJundullah on Friday claimed responsibility for the deadly attack on anti-polio campaigners in Quetta in which four vaccinators were killed and three wounded.

Commander Ahmed Marwat, who introduced himself as the spokesperson for Jundullah, told a foreign news agency correspondent in Dera Ismail Khan via telephone that the group was responsible for the killings.

“They were Yahood-o-Nasara, and such attacks will continue on polio workers in the future,” he told the reporter of Mashaal Radio in Dera Ismail Khan.

Emergency campaign The targeted attack on the polio team’s vehicle took place on the Eastern Bypass area near Quetta on Wednesday, where the polio teams were carrying out an emergency campaign. - Express Tribune

M U S I C C O M P I L AT I O N

‘Indus Raag: Beyond Borders’ first indigenous entry to the Grammys KARACHI: Pakistani personalities seem to be on a global honour roll as after bagging Oscars and Emmys, artistes are now looking towards the Grammys.

A feat worth lauding, the Tehzeeb Foundation’s music compilation Indus Raag: Beyond Borders has been accepted as an entry to the 2015 Grammy Awards.

“It is a moment of honour for us that the work of so many Pakistani artistes has finally entered the race of the world’s finest musicians,”

Sharif Awan, general secretary of Tehzeeb Foundation and producer of Indus Raag, tells The Express Tribune.

In the limelight Prior to Indus Raag being accepted as an indigenous entry, legendary musician Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was nominated for the Grammys twice, with compilations made by foreign producers.

Indus Raag, which features local classical musicians, has been

mixed and mastered in Pakistan.

Whether Indus Raag gets nominated or not will be disclosed by the Grammy committee on December 10.

“Getting nominated for a Grammy is secondary. The fact that so many of our melodies have been heard by enthusiasts around the world is sufficient for me,” shares Awan, adding, “I hope that we are able to bring more local musicians in the limelight in the future.”

The album was recorded by

Faisal Rafi of Silent Music Studios and mixed and mastered by Fuzön’s Emu, and veteran music producer Iqbal Asif of Emix Studios. Emu shares that the biggest challenge for him was to do justice to the works of so many maestros, while keeping in line with the producer’s vision.

“It was a tedious process but the results proved to be worth our effort,” comments Emu. “I’m excited but I’ll be over the moon if the album gets nominated. Fin-

GOODWILL GESTURE

40 Indian prisoners released from Karachi jail KARACHI: Pakistan on Friday announced the release of 40 Indian prisoners, mostly fishermen, from a jail here.

“Pakistan is releasing 40 Indian prisoners (five civil prisoners and 35 fishermen) tomorrow, who will be repatriated to India through Wagah border.

This will bring the total number of Indian prisoners released during this year to 191, which includes six civil prisoners and 185 fishermen,” a Pakistan Foreign Office statement said.

The 40 Indian prisoners lodged in district jail Malir in Karachi are being moved to Lahore for repatriation today.

“Our organisation is providing transport to take them to Wagah border with a packet containing clothes for their families and Rs10,000 in cash to each of the released prisoners,” Anwar Kazmi, a spokesman of Edhi Foundation charity, said.

“The Indian prisoners released from Malir jail will arrive in Lahore Friday evening and spend night at Kot Lakhpat Jail. They will be handed over to the Indian

END OF ORDEAL: Indian fishermen holding their belongings wait for

Pakistan government told Parliament on Friday that it released 1,260 Indian prisoners during last three years. It Included 1,220 fishermen and 40 other prisoners

their release from Karachi’s district Malir prison on Friday. - Reuters

authorities tomorrow,” a Pakistan Ranger’s spokesman said.

The release of the prisoners from Karachi’s district jail Malir comes a day after Prime Minister Modi and Sharif warmly shook hands and exchanged pleasantries at the 18th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Summit in Nepal.

The fishermen had been detained between one and three

years. India and Pakistan regularly arrest fishermen who venture into unmarked territorial waters of the two countries.

Meanwhile, Pakistan government told Parliament on Friday that it released 1,260 Indian prisoners during last three years.

It Included 1,220 fishermen and 40 other prisoners.

“On May 26, as a goodwill gesture, the Prime Minister of Paki-

stan had directed that 151 Indian prisoners be released,”the Foreign Office said.

“Pakistan has always held that the issue of prisoners between the two countries is a humanitarian one and should be taken in that spirit. It is our hope that the Government of India would release all Pakistani prisoners who have completed their sentences,” it said. - PTI

gers crossed, for now.”

Learning experience Rafi says that making Indus Raag was a great learning experience, referring to the year and a half spent on the project as the time spent in “the company of giants.”

“Awan came to me years ago with the idea to record these folk classical and semi-classical musicians and I said, ‘Why not?’. Everything fell into place eventually,” he states.

“I didn’t think that the project would go this far. It was a humbling experience because some of the musicians we worked with are not alive anymore,” adds Rafi.

Details of the selection will be announced on the opening day of Tehzeeb Festival 2014, which is scheduled to take place from November 29 to November 30 at Beach Luxury Hotel, Karachi. The festival is open to the public and will feature music performances and poetry readings. - Express Tribune

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T IME S O F O MAN

SATU RDAY, NOVEMB ER 29, 20 14

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Subscription: RO70 per year.

An overlooked, potent greenhouse gas

F

ive years ago in Copenhagen, President Barack Obama pledged to reduce America’s greenhouse gas emissions 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. In Beijing a few weeks ago, as part of a landmark agreement with China, he went one better by pledging a 26 percent to 28 percent cut by 2025.

The first target will be hard to reach - and the second virtually impossible - without a determined effort on his part to cut methane emissions from the oil and gas industry.

Methane, the major component of natural gas, accounts for roughly 10 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions in this country, but its chemical properties make it a more potent heat-trapping gas in the short run than carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas.

Although methane emissions are also produced by landfills and agricultural operations, the easiest to control are the methane leaks that occur in the drilling and transmission of natural gas and, to a lesser extent, oil.

These emissions are expected to rise substantially as industry continues to exploit old and new natural gas deposits through the drilling technique known as hydraulic fracturing.

Obama promised to address methane emissions in March as part of his Climate Action Plan, and the White House and Environmental Protection Agency are in the final stages of writing proposed regulations. The rules should be as tough as possible and national in scope.

They can be administered by the states, as many are under the Clean Air Act, but they should be mandatory, not voluntary, as many in the industry have argued. And they should seek to control methane leaks at every stage of the process, including drilling and production at the wellhead, storage and transmission and distribution.

As formidable as it sounds, a coalition of environmental groups estimates that emissions could be halved without any new technologies and at a cost of about 1 percent of industry revenues.

As a practical matter, controlling methane emissions is essential to realizing the climate-related advantages of natural gas. When burned in power plants, natural gas produces only about half the carbon dioxide of coal. But that advantage is reduced and could be erased altogether if methane emissions are not controlled.

What is mainly at issue here, of course, is the future of the planet.

But also at issue is Obama’s climate legacy, which already includes greatly increased automobile efficiency standards and, assuming they survive court and congressional challenges, his proposed rules governing carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. Strong methane regulations could complete that legacy- New York Times News Service

REFORM

The Federal Reserve’s escape from New York

T

SIMON JOHNSON

Exemplary delivery of justice

A

n anti-terrorism court on November 19 sentenced four men to death in Lahore for the murder of a woman, who was three months’ pregnant. She had been murdered by members of her own family for marrying the man of her choice.

The manner of her death — she was hit with stones, bricks and clubs close to the courthouse where she was pleading her case — caused international outrage, as well as outrage in some parts of our own society. Whilst the rights and wrongs of handing out a death sentence can be debated upon, we wholeheartedly support the speed with which this case was brought to court and the finding of a guilty verdict, irrespective of the sentence handed down.

All too often, ‘honour killing’ cases disappear into the far distance, dropping off the agenda as cultural norms erode the rule of law, and findings of guilt are rare indeed.

It is not possible to objectively measure the number of women killed in honour killings every year, as many cases never reach the ears of the police, never mind the courts. A conservative estimate puts the number at more than 1,000, but it could be double that.

Honour killing has nothing to do with faith; it is fuelled by a deeprooted misogyny and a desire to deny women independence of thought and deed.

Women are seen by many as items of portable property in Pakistan, and the specious ascription to women as repositories of the family ‘honour’ is no more than a mechanism to bind and constrain them.

Challenging a mindset as pervasive as that is difficult, and that is why, this finding of guilt is of particular importance. The message that the anti-terrorism court has given is that murder is murder, no matter what ‘cultural’ trappings may be hung about it.

The victim was killed in plain view, the attackers were immediately recognisable and — for once — the police followed through (though they were guilty bystanders to the act itself ). Farzana Parveen may not have died in vain, and it is to be hoped that this presages more guilty verdicts. -The Express Tribune

GCC contract norms for domestic helps welcome Refer to the front page report, “New GCC contracts ‘blessing’ for maids. It is a great move on the part of GCC countries to unify the job contract for domestic helps.

Earlier, some maids had to work in pathetic conditions imposed by some employers. They had to work long hours seven days a week. The new norms limit their working hours to eight and also give them weekly off. These minimum rights were surely deserved by these workers who come from distant lands to earn a livelihood and support their families. The biggest positive of this new system is that it bans the employer from holding the passport of the domestic help. It also gives the housemaid the option to live outside the employer’s home.

Moreover, it makes it mandatory for the employer to provide the employee air ticket at the termination of contract. With new system in place, I believe exploitation of housemaids will become a thing of the past. That is why social activists have welcomed the move and hope that if everything mentioned in the draft is implemented, it will indeed be a blessing for domestic helps.

Shakeel Ahmad Muscat

Loose ends in GCC contract norms for domestic helps This refers to the report ‘New GCC contracts ‘blessing’ for maids’ (Times of Oman, November 27).

The report amply elaborated on the need for such provisions in the best interests of the maids. While

Now, finally, US politicians on both the left and the right are focusing their attention on a long-overdue reform of the Fed’s governance

he US Federal Reserve System is the world’s most important central bank. Its decisions about interest rates and financial regulation reverberate through global markets and affect millions of lives. Yet its governance structure is of another age – antiquated, increasingly problematic, and urgently in need of sensible reform.

The Fed made major mistakes in the run-up to the global economic crisis of 2007-08, most notably by adopting a lax approach to the supervision of key financial institutions, and by allowing some very large banks to become extremely fragile. In one of the great ironies of modern American politics, the post-crisis Dodd-Frank financial reforms of 2010 actually gave more power to the Fed, mostly because other US regulatory agencies were regarded as having done a worse job.

In view of the Fed’s decidedly mixed track record since the Dodd-Frank reforms, some officials evidently regarded that default by Congress as a mandate to conduct business as usual. Recent press reports have highlighted lapses in supervision, particularly in and around the Federal Reserve Bank of New York – one of 12 regional banks in the Fed System, which also has a Board of Governors in Washington, DC. This regional structure is the result of legislative compromise in 1913, when the Fed was created, and again in the mid-1930s, when its governance was last overhauled. Whereas members of the Fed’s Washington-based Board of Governors are nominated by the US president, subject to Senate confirmation, the presidents of the regional Federal Reserve banks are appointed by local boards.

In reality, the New York Fed has always had disproportionate sway; not all regional Fed presidents are created equal. The president of the New York Fed is a permanent voting member and vice chairman of the Federal Open Market Committee, which sets interest rates, whereas other regional Fed presidents are voting members only on a rotating basis.

The New York Fed also has a particularly important role in bank supervision – most of America’s “too big to fail” banks are located in its jurisdiction (and most global banks have a presence there). And the New York Fed has long been the Fed System’s eyes and ears on Wall Street.

Or perhaps it has become the other way around. At least over the past decade, senior New York Fed offi-

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It’s so much easier to suggest solutions when you don’t know too much about the problem.

MALCOLM FORBES

cials have consistently sided with the interests of very large banks. (To be clear, I also know many Fed officials who are outstanding public servants). Though Wall Street interests have long been well represented on the board of the New York Fed, under Timothy Geithner, its president from 2003 to 2009, the big players became even more powerful – with some rather unfortunate consequences for the rest of us.

In his recent memoir, Stress Test, Geithner says, “I basically restored the New York Fed board to its historic roots as an elite roster of the local financial establishment.” His choices included Dick Fuld, CEO of Lehman Brothers, which failed spectacularly in September 2008, and Stephen Friedman, a Goldman Sachs board member, who resigned as chair of the New York Fed’s board after being accused of inappropriately trading Goldman stock during the financial crisis. Geithner also established a tangled web of connections between the New York Fed and JPMorgan Chase, some of which linger to this day.

Some senior Fed officials become angry when pressed about this reality. But the Fed’s legitimacy – and its ability to make sensible policy – is not boosted by having major banks represented, directly or indirectly, on a board that chooses and oversees a key policymaker.

Now, finally, US politicians on both the left and the right are focusing their attention on a long-overdue reform of the Fed’s governance. One important proposal comes from Senator Jack Reed, a Democrat from Rhode Island, who proposes, quite reasonably, that the president of the New York Fed should be nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, just like members of the Board of Governors – or any other important economic policymaker.

The president of the New York Fed would also be required to testify before Congress on a regular basis.

The Fed’s defenders will respond that it would be dangerous to alter the status quo. But it is the Fed’s current governance that has become dangerous.

Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Joe Manchin of West Virginia argue, entirely convincingly, that the composition of the Fed’s Board of Governors should be tilted away from people who are connected with big Wall Street firms.

Meanwhile, House Republicans are preparing their own Fed governance reforms, which would be even more radical – and would likely constrain monetary policy unwisely.

In any case, it is time for change at the Fed. And, as is often the case with finance, the place to start is New York. -Project Syndicate

there can be no second opinion on the overall outlook of these measures, one should not underestimate the importance of the issues of logistics and enforcement of these provisions to their letter and spirit as they involve multiple stake holders. Provisions like a fixed eight-hour workday, with overtime payment for hours of work beyond it, would be difficult to implement for a host of reasons.

Moreover, not every employer is rich enough to afford such, though they are entitled to maid visas.

Even otherwise, it may not always be possible to implement the norms to the letter. In my opinion, the freedom given to the domestic helps to stay away from their place of work would have it’s own ramifications. For instance, maids living independent of their employers may not be in a position to ensure

by themselves logistics of travel and punctuality. Besides, there is the question of safety of the maids staying away from their employers and a host of other related issues.

The mandate that employers should not hold the passports of maids – prohibited here even now – has it’s own issues like possible theft, accidental mutilation or destruction if they are in the hands of maids. Besides, maids who have the passport and resident card in their hands may forget to renew the documents or even leave the country. One way to address these problems is to have the passports deposited at the embassies and have them handed back when needed. If these loose ends are tied up this could be a win-win for most concerned, if not all.

Usha Devi Rao Suddapalli Ruwi

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

S AT U R DAY, N OV E MB E R 2 9, 2 0 14

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Severe storm flips planes, rips off roofs in Brisbane The storm, which was one of the worst seen in Australia and the strongest to hit the city of Brisbane in three decades, rained hailstones the size of tennis balls on cars and buildings late Thursday

BRISBANE: Planes were flipped and roofs ripped off when hail and powerful winds tore through Australia’s east coast, leaving a damage bill of more than $85 million (Aus$100 million) as the army helped clear up Friday.

The storm, which officials said was one of the worst seen in the country and the strongest to hit the city of Brisbane in three decades, rained hailstones the size of tennis balls on cars and buildings late Thursday, flooding streets and injuring 39 people.

Gusts of up to 140kmh (87mph), as strong as a Category Two cyclone, also uprooted trees and brought down power lines.

‘Apocalypse’ In one of the more dramatic scenes, at least four light planes were flipped over at Archerfield Airport, 11kilometres (6.8 miles) from Brisbane’s central business district.

“It looks like the apocalypse,” one resident of an apartment building that had its metal roof wrenched off by the storm and

BADLY DAMAGED: Selina Lundberg and Bill Coman survey the damage to a Cessina 172 N Skthawk light aircraft at Archerfield General

aviation airfield in Brisbane following a storm which struck the area on Friday. – AFP

blown more than 100 metres (330 feet) told reporters.

Another Brisbane resident said the hailstones were travelling “like bullets”.

“My daughter was crying. It was like a freight train coming straight at you, just like a roar, it was that loud,” John Arthur told national radio. “The size of the hailstones were decimating everything in its path.”

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said it was the “biggest storm that has hit Brisbane since 1985” but was grateful no one was seriously hurt.

“It was a terrible storm, but thankfully no one’s been seri-

ously injured or worse,” he told ABC radio.

The tempest started as a routine storm south of Brisbane on Thursday afternoon and tracked north, encountering moist air from sea breezes that helped it develop into a supercell, the Bureau of Meteorology’s Pradeep Singh said.

“A supercell has a vortex -- the air is spinning around it as it moves up. When that happens, it takes the moisture above the freezing level and keeps it there for a long time,” the senior meteorologist said.

“Rain particles keep developing bigger and bigger into hail.

And because the draft is so strong in supercells, they tend to stay for a long time up in the air and when they reach the right weight, they start dropping down.”

Queensland’s Transport Minister Scott Emerson said Brisbane had received an “extraordinary” battering, as the insurance bill rose sharply through the day.

The Insurance Council of Australia declared it a catastrophic weather event. A spokeswoman told AFP it had so far received 15,060 claims for insured losses of Aus$109.2 million.

Insurer Suncorp said it fielded some 1,000 home and 1,600 motor claims following the storm.

N E W R E G U L AT I O N

China bans indoor smoking at all public places and offices in Beijing BEIJING: China’s capital on Friday passed a smoking ban for all indoor public places and offices, state media reported, despite the failure of past attempts to limit where the country’s 300 million smokers can light up.

The new regulation comes into force in June and also bans tobacco advertising outdoors, on public transport and on nearly every form of media -- including magazines, radio, TV, films, newspapers and books -- the official Xinhua news agency reported.

Tobacco kills more than a million people each year in China, where some brands can be purchased for as little as three yuan ($0.49). Chinese and foreign experts say the number of smoking deaths could triple by 2030.

Experts point to the state monopoly on the tobacco industry, which accounts for nearly a tenth of national tax revenue, as one of the biggest obstacles to antismoking efforts.

The World Health Organization (WHO) applauded the move, saying it paved the way for strict anti-smoking legislation at the national level.

“We are thrilled to see the Beijing 100 per cent smoke-free law pass, with no loopholes and no exemptions,” said Bernhard Schwartlander, the WHO Rep-

BLANKET BAN: Girls stand next to a ‘No Smoking’ sign at a park downtown Shanghai in this photo-

graph taken on April 27, this year. – Reuters

resentative in China. “China is poised to take a quantum leap forward on tobacco control.”

But that optimism may be premature in the face of past attempts to limit the behaviour of the tobacco-hooked country.

Ministry of Health guidelines published in 2011 banned smoking in “indoor public spaces”, but were criticised as too vague and lacked enforcement. Bars, restaurants and clubs have continued to allow patrons to light up at will.

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Offering a cigarette is a common greeting among Chinese men while lighting up in lifts, buses or even in hospital waiting rooms is routine -- highlighting the lack of public awareness about the health risks of smoking. — AFP

At least 500 power lines were down on Friday and tens of thousands of homes and businesses remained without electricity as crews worked to restore the network.

Dozens of schools were closed, while hundreds of soldiers from the military’s Emergency Support Force helped remove trees and debris from Brisbane’s roads.

Queensland has been hit by several major storms and cyclones over the past two years.

Tropical cyclone Oswald, which flooded parts of the state in 2013 and racked up claims of some Aus$977 million, was one of the worst. — AFP

ORGANISED CRIME

Police arrest 118 in global ticket fraud crackdown THE HAGUE: Police have arrested 118 people in an unprecedented globally-coordinated swoop on plane ticket credit card fraud, a billion-dollar organised crime industry, officials said on Friday.

Operation Global Airport Action at 80 airports in 45 countries was coordinated from Europol’s headquarters in The Hague, Interpol in Singapore and Latin American agency Ameripol in Bogota.

Police teams at airports from London to Manila arrested suspects who had used fraudulent credit card details to buy plane tickets as they queued to board or as they landed at their destination, said Europol chief Rob Wainwright.

It’s a billion-dollar a year problem for the airline industry... and the volume of traffic is huge,” Wainwright said during the twoday operation on Wednesday and Thursday. “We had to design a global operation to put us into any kind of position to stop the guys from boarding the flights or indeed to apprehend them on arrival.”

Inside Europol’s fortress-like headquarters, experts from credit card companies, including Visa and American Express, as well as airline representatives and police analysts worked closely together.

Europol gave rare access to their European Cybercrime Centre EC3 during the operation.

‘Big problem’ “We never realised how big the problem with fraud in the airlines was until we approached the airlines and asked for their cooperation,” Marcin Skowrouek, one of the crime centre’s investigators said. Behind him, a giant screen tracks flights across Europe, some of them carrying suspect passengers heading for arrest after Europol passes on their details to national police. “We have a team of around 20 officers standing by at (London) Heathrow as we speak,” said Skowrouek. — AFP

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SATU RDAY, NOVEMB ER 29, 2014 French helicopters, soldiers and paramilitary police carried out dozens of rescue operations in the rain-lashed southeastern part of the country, hit by weeks of successive storms and flooding

WORLD

I N C L E M E N T W E AT H E R

POPE FRANCIS VISITS TURKEY

Pope Francis and Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan walk during a guard of honour at the presidential palace in Ankara on Friday. Pope Francis began is visit to Turkey with the delicate mission of strengthening ties. — Reuters

Three dead, two missing as flash flood hits France PARIS: Three people died and two were missing after a heavy storm triggered flash flooding in southeastern France, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said on Friday.

Helicopters, soldiers and paramilitary police carried out dozens of rescue operations in the rainlashed region, hit by weeks of successive storms and flooding.

Updating an earlier toll, Cazeneuve said three people had died in the Mediterranean towns of La Londe-les-Maures, Grimaud and Hyeres and “two are missing”.

Mother killed One of the victims was a woman whose body was found next to her car alongside a river, said Pierre Soubelet, the representative of the Var department on the Mediterranean coast. The woman was understood to have been out with her daughter at the time. “Her daughter has not been found. It is likely that the child has died,” he said.

Earlier this month, storms in southern France left six people dead, including a mother and her two small sons, whose vehicle was swept away on a submerged bridge. — AFP

SRI LANKA

Opposition candidate vows to resist UN war probe COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s main opposition presidential candidate vowed on Friday to resist international moves to investigate the island’s war record, but promised a domestic probe if he was elected in January’s polls.

Maithripala Sirisena, who defected last week from President Mahinda Rajapakse’s party, said he would not allow Sri Lankans to be tried overseas for war crimes allegedly committed during the separatist conflict that ended in 2009.

“I will not allow President Rajapakse, his family or any member of our armed forces to be taken before any international war crimes tribunal,” Sirisena told reporters in Colombo. A UN-mandated probe is underway into allegations up to 40,000 ethnic minority Tamil civilians were killed by government forces while crushing separatist Tamil rebels in the final stages of the war in 2009.

Rajapakse does not recognise the probe and has refused to grant visas for any investigator to come to Sri Lanka, prompting the UN to say that there was a wealth of information available outside the country.

Rajapakse has, however, widened the scope of a local panel probing cases of war-time disappearances, to include allegations of excessive force used by both government forces and Tamil rebels. — AFP

Cameron vows tough curbs on welfare for EU migrants British premier is under intense pressure to address voters’ concerns ahead of the May 2015 general election

LONDON: Prime Minister David Cameron on Friday promised tough curbs on welfare for EU migrants to counter a surge in arrivals and warned European leaders that blocking them could put Britain’s EU membership in doubt.

He said the package of reforms would require changes to European Union treaties but said he was “confident” he could deliver a deal.

Immigration to Britain has increased sharply in the past decade and Cameron is under intense pressure to address voters’ concerns ahead of the May 2015 general election.

His Conservative party is losing support to the UK Independence Party (UKIP), which advocates leaving the EU altogether as the only way to curb EU migration.

BELT TIGHTENING: Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron delivers a speech at JCB World Headquarters in Rocester, central England on Friday. – Reuetrs

In a long-awaited speech on the issue, Cameron stopped short of calling for a cap on new arrivals or a mooted “emergency brake”, which had caused consternation in EU capitals.

But he announced plans to make EU workers wait four years to receive income tax credits and access social housing, and vowed to stop migrants claiming ben-

efits for children living elsewhere in Europe.

Cameron said the reforms, intended to make Britain less attractive, were an “absolute requirement” of his bid to renegotiate Britain’s membership of the bloc before holding an in-out referendum in 2017. “There is no doubt that this package as a whole will require some treaty

change and I am confident we can negotiate that,” he said.

Cameron insists he wants Britain to stay in the European Union but has refused to say if he would campaign for an exit if he fails to achieve the reforms he wants.

He said on Friday: “If our concerns fall on deaf ears and we cannot put our relationship with the EU on a better footing, then of

course I rule nothing out.”

Cameron briefed German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz and European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker on his speech beforehand, aides said. Afterwards, a Commission spokesman said the EU’s executive arm was ready to discuss the proposals “calmly and carefully”, adding: “We have to see what can be done without shutting the door.”

Cameron said Britain had been built on immigration and condemned “deeply unpatriotic” calls to shut its borders. But he said its economic growth and generous welfare system had made it a “magnetic destination” for migrants, and the government had to take back some control.

Cameron was forced to abandon a promise to cut net migration to Britain to under 100,000, after official figures on Thursday revealed it rose from 182,000 to 260,000 last year. But he insisted action was still possible, and said migrants should have a job before arriving and could be deported if they do not find work after six months.

He also repeated calls for restrictions on the rights of citizens of new EU nations to work in Britain until their economies improved in line with other members. — AFP

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

S P O R

State memorial service to honour Hughes next week State memorials are normally reserved for political figures but the New South Wales Premier Mike Baird announced on Friday that Hughes, whose death has triggered a global outpouring of grief would also be afforded the honour HUGE LOSS: Tributes to Australian batsman Phillip Hughes are placed at the entrance of the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) where the Aus-

tralian team has gathered following the death of Hughes, in Sydney on November 28, 2014. – AFP

S

SYDNEY: The Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes, who died on Thursday after being hit in the head by a ball, will be honoured with a state memorial service.

The service will take place at the Sydney Cricket Ground next week, the same stadium where he suffered the horrific injury on Tuesday.

State memorials are normally reserved for political figures but the New South Wales Premier Mike Baird announced on Friday that Hughes, whose death has triggered a global outpouring of grief would also be afforded the honour.

“This service has been arranged in consultation with Phillip’s family, and it will be an opportunity for the entire community to pay their respects to a much-loved Australian and New South Welshman,” Baird said in a statement.

Hughes’ death dominated Australia’s major newspapers on Friday, with sombre eulogies for the boy raised on a banana plantation whose life ended three days before his 26th birthday.

“Nation shares the agony of an innings cut short,” The Australian’s front-page headline read above a picture of Hughes gazing above with an Australian flag in the background.

Sydney’s Daily Telegraph blacked out its entire back page, except for a picture of Hughes, in his honour.

Government flags were at halfmast across the cricket-mad country and floral tributes were placed outside the entrance to the SCG. Local cricket clubs were painting 408 into the turf of their grounds, the number on Hughes’

ISC TENNIS

Abbott support The tragedy touched the country’s other top sports, with the national Wallabies rugby team to wear black armbands in Saturday’s match against England in London.

A social media tribute with the hashtag #putoutyourbats saw cricketers from around the world post pictures of their bats outside their doors.

Support also rang out for Sean

Abbott, the 22-year-old all-rounder whose rising delivery struck Hughes.

Hughes’ family and Australia cricket captain Michael Clarke spent time with Abbott during the week and Cricket Australia (CA) boss James Sutherland said he was “holding up” well.

“I had a chat to him last night and I was incredibly impressed by the way he was holding himself and his maturity,” Sutherland added. CA will launch an “immediate” review into player safety in the wake of Hughes’ death, while the fate of next week’s first test against India remained in limbo.

Sutherland said the board would work with manufacturers and regulators to look into safety standards and seek improvements after Hughes was killed despite wearing

a helmet.

“Statistics say it is clearly a freak incident, but one freak incident is one freak incident too many, so that of course puts us in a position of looking into that,” Sutherland said.

Hughes was set to replace the injured Clarke in the Australia team for the first Test against India next week, according to selector Mark Waugh, but the debate has turned to whether the match should go ahead at all.

Sutherland declined to confirm the December 4-8 match in Brisbane, saying Hughes’ team mates needed time to grieve.

“I know for many people, seven days doesn’t seem too far away but in other ways it is a million miles away. We will get there when we can,” he said. - Reuters

FOOTBALL

Gutsy Sanskar shines MUSCAT: Gutsy Sanskar Dubey stole the limelight on two consecutive days at the Falcon Insurance Company-sponsored Annual Tennis Tournament organized by the Indian Social Club Muscat when he put in fighting displays resulting in mixed fortunes.

Sanskar, the No. 3 seed in the under-12 singles advanced to the summit clash after registering a brilliant 6-2, 6-3 victory to upset second seed Ayaan Malhotra in the semi-final.

Ayaan had advanced to the semifinal after clinically demolishing Prithvi Raj 8-1 in the quarter final and lined-up a semi-final clash against third seed Sanskar Dubey who had to fight tooth and nail to get the better of Vivek Kolluru.

Left hander Vivek Kolluru played a brilliant game of tennis.

Fortunes fluctuated as Vivek exhibited all-round brilliance and played with great maturity. Vivek raced to a 6-3 lead when Sanskar, who lacked focus and confidence, broke Vivek in the tenth and twelfth games and held to go 7-6 ahead. Vivek held in the crucial fourteenth game to take the game to the tie-breaker. Vivek was well placed at 5-3 but a resurgent Sanskar bounced back to reel off the

national ‘baggy green’ cap signifying his status as the country’s 408th Test player, while black armbands would be worn and a minute’s silence observed before games on the weekend.

Junior cricketers would also retire their innings at 63, instead of the usual 50, to commemorate Hughes’ final score.

IN FINAL: Sanskar Dubey after reaching the under-12 final. – Supplied photo

next three points for a place in the semi final.

Sanskar was involved in another nerve-wrecking match before going down fighting to third seed Vedanth Ram in the quarter finals of the boys under-14 singles.

Sanskar rallied from 3-5 down to level at 7-all. Sankskar was on the verge of victory leading 6-3 in the tie-breaker before Vedanth staged a remarkable rearguard ac-

tion to draw level. Vedanth saved two more match points before edging to a narrow 8-7 (11-9) victory for a place in the semi-final.

Top seed Hassan Haider also advanced to the semifinals of the under-12 after blanking Piyush Sivakumar 8-0 in the quarter finals. In the semifinal, he will take on fourth seed Shlok Ail who progressed with a confident 8-4 victory over Varun Deepak.

ISL ‘more popular’ than Serie A NEW DELHI: India’s fledgling football league has become the fourth most popular in the world after just six weeks, surpassing Italy’s long-standing Serie A in average crowd attendance, according

to organisers. The Indian Super League (ISL) has lured former international veterans such as Sweden’s Freddie Ljungberg, Frenchman Nicolas Anelka and Italian great Alessandro Del Piero for the

10-week competition.

The league, played around the country, has been hit by injuries to some of its biggest stars, while some football experts have questioned the quality of the matches. - AFP

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SATU RDAY, NOVEMB ER 29, 20 14

SPORTS INDIAN SUPER LEAGUE

Dynamos thump Mumbai City NEW DELHI: Skipper Hans Mulder scored a breathtaking goal, before Mads Junker, Gustavo Santos and Manish Bhargav added to the tally to propel Delhi Dynamos to a crushing 4-1 win over Mumbai City FC in an Indian Super League match here on Friday.

With back-to-back wins, the Dynamos kept themselves in contention for a last four berth with 13 points from 11 games, which places them at fifth position in the eight-team table.

While Mumbai City FC are only a point behind from same number of matches, their fifth defeat pushed them to the bottom of the table. Mulder found the target in the 44th minute while striker Junker struck in the 50th minute to seal the issue in Dynamos’ favour at the floodlit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Brazilian Dos Santos only added to the visiting side’s misery by finding the net with a header in 60th minute, leaving the jubilant home fans in a state of frenzy. Manish, who came in as a substitute, made it worse for the visitors as he scored in the 90th minute.

For the visitors, Abhishek Yadav, who came in as a substitute, pulled one back for the in the 86th minute. Mulder, who had also scored in the side’s last game, struck for the hosts with a rasping right-footed volley after receiving the ball from Francis Fernandes just a minute before the breather. After the change of ends, the script remained the same as Junker, playing as a lone striker in coach Harm Van Veldhoven’s 4-2-3-1 formation, capitalised on Dos Santos’ brilliant through ball inside the box by placing it past Mumbai custodian Subrata Paul.

Dos Santos then go into the thick of things as he headed one in to the right side of the post after meeting a Fernandes cross inside the 18-yard box. — PTI

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McCullum’s fastest ton after Craig’s career best

DAY’S STARS: New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum, left, and Mark Craig overshadowed Pakistan batsman Mohammed Hafeez’s epic knock on the second day of the final Test in Sharjah. – AFP

SCOREBOARD

The Kiwi skipper completed his tenth hundred off 78 balls and went on to reach 145-ball 153 when bad light ended play

SHARJAH: Opener Brendon McCullum smashed the fastest century by a New Zealand batsman to give his team an upper hand in the third and final Test against Pakistan in Sharjah on Friday.

The Kiwi skipper completed his tenth hundred off 78 balls and went on to reach 145-ball 153 when bad light ended play seven overs earlier with New Zealand 249-1, a strong position with just 102 runs away from Pakistan’s first innings total of 351.

Kane Williamson matched his skipper’s aggression and was unbeaten on 76, putting an impressive 198 for the unfinished second wicket stand which gave New Zealand a strong position to level the

Pakistan 1st innings: Mohammad Hafeez c Boult b Sodhi 197 Shan Masood b Craig 12 Azhar Ali c Taylor b Craig 39 Younis Khan lbw b Vettori 5 Misbah-ul Haq c Watling b Southee 38 Asad Shafiq c Sodhi b Craig 11 Sarfraz Ahmed c Watling b Craig 15 Yasir Shah c Taylor b Craig 25 Mohammad Talha c Latham b Craig 0 Rahat Ali c Taylor b Craig 0 Zulfiqar Babar not out 0 Extras: (lb-4, nb-1, w-4) 9 Total: (all out; 125.4 overs) 351 Fall of wickets: 1-44 (Masood), 2-131 (Ali), 3-160 (Younis), 4-285 (Misbah), 5-311 (Hafeez), 6-313 (Shafiq), 7-336 (Sarfraz), 8-336 (Talha), 9-346 (Rahat)

series which they trail 1-0.

Pakistan won the first Test while the second ended in a draw.

But McCullum’s rapidfire knock was overshadowed by the gloomy atmosphere as Pakistan and New Zealand observed a minute’s silence before the start and wore black armbands to join in the mourning for young Australian batsman Phillip Hughes who died Thursday from serious head injuries after being hit by a bouncer.

The New Zealand team also did not celebrate any dismissal.

Bowling: Boult 21-6-54-0 (1w), Southee 24-4-54-1, Vettori 19-5-41-1, Anderson 12-4-28-0 (1nb, 3w), Craig 27.4-5-94-7, Sodhi 22-3-76-1 New Zealand 1st innings T. Latham c Ahmed b Rahat 13 B. McCullum not out 153 K. Williamson not out 76 Extras: (lb-2, nb-3, w-2) 7 Total: (for one wkt; 45 over) 249 Fall of wicket: 1-51 (Latham) Bowling: Talha 7-0-62-0, Rahat 8-0-24-1 (1w), Babar 10-1-71-0, Shah 10-0-59-0, Hafeez 10-2-31-0 Note: Second day’s play was suspended on Thursday to mourn the death of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes.

The teams abandoned Thursday’s second day’s play as a mark of respect for the talented Australian.

New Zealand’s coach Mike Hesson admitted the day was gloomy despite his team’s dominance.

“It wasn’t about cricket today,” said Hesson. “It was about supporting a fellow player and the key for us to stay calm as some players were struggling more than the others.

“Craig showed a lot of character and his drift and variety got him rewards,” said Hesson.

McCullum stole the show, hit-

ting eight sixes — four off left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar — and 17 boundaries as New Zealand rattled the total in just 45 overs.

In the penultimate over before tea he hit four boundaries in one paceman Mohammad Talha over before two quick singles completed his hundred.

This was the fastest hundred ever by a New Zealand batsman, beating the 81-ball hundred Ross Taylor made against Australia at Hamilton in 2010.

Williamson, who had a dismal series before this match, hit seven fours and a six off 96 balls.

Their stand is New Zealand’s best for second wicket against Pakistan, beating the 195 between John Wright and Geoff Howarth in Napier in 1997.

Pakistan’s spin-cum pace attack looked hapless against McCullum as Babar conceded 71 in his ten overs while leggie Yasir Shah gave 59 in as many overs.

Tom Latham was the only wicket to fall, caught behind off Rahat Ali for 13.

Earlier off-spinner Mark Craig took a career best 7-94 as Pakistan lost their last seven wickets for 70 runs to get bowled out for 351 after resuming at 281-3, squandering a strong position on a flat Sharjah stadium pitch. — AFP

EPL

Gunners and Reds seek to halt drift LONDON: Arsenal and Liverpool will each attempt to arrest damaging sequences of results when they return to Premier League action this weekend following mid-week exertions in the Champions League.The two teams have fallen out of title contention over recent weeks, with Arsenal now 15 points behind leaders Chelsea following consecutive losses and Liverpool three points further back after three straight defeats.

Arsenal’s poor form has seen manager Arsene Wenger’s 18year stewardship called into question as rarely before, amid concerns that a climate of tolerated under-achievement has infiltrated the club.

However, Wednesday’s 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League saw Arsenal reach the last 16 for the 15th consecutive season, boosting morale ahead of Saturday’s trip to West Bromwich Albion.

“We have to show character and that is what makes me really happy for the next few games, because we have to sharpen up in the Premier League as well,” said Arsenal’s Per Mertesacker.

“Saturday is a good chance to show to everyone that we are still alive. We have to come back in the Premier League and that is the next target.”

Victory over Dortmund came at a cost, with Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta joining a host of players on the sidelines after injuring his calf. Jack Wilshere has been ruled out for three months after undergoing ankle surgery, but goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny should return from the hip injury he sustained in last Saturday’s 2-1 loss at home to Manchester United.

Liverpool host Stoke City on Saturday having slumped to 12th place in the table after successive defeats by Newcastle United, Chelsea and Crystal Palace. — AFP

ODI SERIES

Rahim and Mahmudullah make it 4-0 for Bangladesh

CELEBRATIONS: Bangladesh players celebrate yet another victory over Zimbabwe. – AFP

DHAKA: Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah each struck a fifty to set up a 21-run win for Bangladesh over Zimbabwe in the fourth one-day international in Dhaka on Friday.

Rahim made a fluent 77 while Mahmudullah remained unbeaten on his career best 82 as the duo helped Bangladesh recover from 32-4 to post a commendable 256-8.

Shakib Al Hasan, Jubair Hossain and Rubel Hossain then claimed two wickets each to restrict Zimbabwe to 235-8 and give Bangladesh a 4-0 lead in the fivematch series.

Zimbabwe looked competitive for the first time in the series as medium pacers Neville Madziva (3-60) and Solomon Mire (3-49) put Bangladesh on the back foot with their opening spell burst.

But Rahim and Mahmudullah shared 134 runs for the fifth wicket to bring Bangladesh innings back on track.

Rahim led the initial charge before he top-edged leg-spinner Tafadzwa Kamungozi to end his 78-ball innings.

Skipper Mashrafe Mortaza hit 39 off 25 balls to ensure Bangladesh got a competitive score.

Zimbabwe made a brisk start in reply when Hamilton Masakadza

SCOREBOARD

BANGLADESH T. Iqbal c H. Masakadza b Mire 16 A. Haque lbw b Madziva 5 I. Kayes c Taylor b Madziva 5 M. Mahmudullah not out 82 S. Al Hasan c Maruma b Mire 1 M. Rahim c Chigumbura b Kamungozi 77 S. Rahman c Chakabva b Kamungozi 4 A. Hasan c Chigumbura b Mire 1 M. Mortaza c Moor b Madziva 39 R. Hossain not out 7 Extras (b-1 lb-4 nb-1 w-13) 19 Total (for 8 wickets, 50 overs) 256 Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-31, 3-31, 4-32, 5-166, 6-175, 7-177, 8-242 Bowling: T. Chatara 10-2-39-0 (w-1), N. Madziva 10-0-60-3 (nb-1 w-3), S. Mire 10-0-49-3 (w-5), V. Sibanda 1-0-7-0, T. Kamungozi 10-0-36-2 (w-1), E. Chigumbura 3-0-19-0 (w-2), H. Masakadza 5-0-30-0, T.

(28) and Vusimuzi Sibanda (17) scored 48 runs in the opening stand.

Shakib removed both the openers in his successive overs and debutant leg-spinner Jubair bowled one-down Timycen Maruma to leave them struggling at 60-3.

Brendan Taylor and Mire each hit a fifty and put 106 runs for the fourth wicket to give them some

Maruma 1-0-11-0 ZIMBABWE H. Masakadza b Al Hasan 28 V. Sibanda lbw b Al Hasan 17 T. Maruma b J. Hossain 6 B. Taylor c Rahim b R. Hossain 63 S. Mire c Mahmudullah b J. Hossain 52 R. Chakabva c J. Hossain b R. Hossain 26 E. Chigumbura c Hasan b Mortaza 4 P. Moor run out (Rahman, Rahim) 13 N. Madziva not out 3 T. Chatara not out 16 Extras (lb-4 nb-1 w-2) 7 Total (for 8 wickets, 50 overs) 235 Fall of wickets: 1-48, 2-51, 3-60, 4-166, 5-172, 6-183, 7-211, 8-217 Bowling: M. Mortaza 10-0-34-1(w-1), A. Hasan 10-0-48-0 (w-1), S. Al Hasan 10-128-2, R. Hossain 10-1-48-2, J. Hossain 6-042-2 (nb-1), M. Mahmudullah 4-0-31-0

hope but brought the hosts back into the contest again.

Jubair made Mire a catch of Mahmudullah for 52 and Rubel bounced out Taylor for 63 next over with wicketkeeper Rahim completing the catch.

Shakib finished with 2-28 while Jubair and Rubel grabbed 2-42 and 2-48 respectively.

The fifth ODI will be held at the same venue on December 1. — AFP

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WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM SATUR DAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

MARKE

RBI UNDER PRESSURE TO CUT KEY INTEREST RATE After months of holding one of Asia’s highest interest rates to fight inflation, Indian central bank Governor Raghuram Rajan is getting closer to a cut. >B4

ECONOMY

American shoppers go in for the kill on ‘Black Friday’ LEESBURG, (United States): The traditionalists don’t like it, but the “Black Friday” shopping frenzy is as much a part of the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States as turkey and pumpkin pie.

Americans will spend tens of billions of dollars over the fourday holiday and there was certainly no messing about at Leesburg Corner, a Virginia outlet centre only a short drive from the US capital Washington.

There was hardly time for the roast turkey and stuffing to settle when most shops opened there on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, for a 28-hour bonanza of breathless consumerism that was to stretch overnight and drag on nonstop until 10:00pm on Friday.

After a tentative start, many shops were packed by midnight: nearly 100 people queued to get into Kate Spade New York as the clock ticked into Black Friday and the cold night air dropped a degree or two further.

Meanwhile they had been waiting at the door of Coach before it Q UA R T E R LY D ATA

India’s GDP growth slows NEW DELHI: India said on Friday that the economy grew by 5.3 per cent in the three months to September year-onyear — weaker than the previous quarter and stirring hopes of an interest rate cut to spur investment.

Economic growth was below the 5.7 per cent logged in the previous three months but the performance still beat consensus market forecasts of 5.1 per cent expansion in the second quarter of the financial year, the government said.

Hawkish central bank The data was released days before the hawkish central bank, which has held its benchmark lending rate at a steep eight percent since last January, meets for its regular policy review.

Most economists expect the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which has vowed to “break the back of chronic inflation”, to hold rates until the next financial year starting in April.

But some expect it to begin lowering rates as early as the next policy meeting Tuesday as growth slows.

India’s Sensex share index closed up nearly one percent at a record high of 28,693.99 points on hopes that slowing growth, easing inflation and a slide in crude oil prices will pave the way for a rate cut. - AFP

shopping season, and Black Friday has long been considered the critical day that turns retailers’ books from red to black.

SHOPPING BONANZA: The long Thanksgiving weekend is the kick-

off to the US holiday shopping season, and Black Friday has long been considered the critical day that turns retailers’ books from red to black. — Bloomberg file picture

even opened. Likewise at J. Crew and Sunglass Hut. Hide and Miho, a couple originally from Tokyo but living locally, snapped up two winter coats within the first hour from DKNY. “We got 50 per cent off, but with

another 20 per cent off on top of that. The coats are one for each of us because here is pretty cold,” said Hide, clutching three bags in one hand.

The long Thanksgiving weekend is the kickoff to the US holiday

Tactical approach Mamadou Niass, 48, a cyber-security engineer originally from Senegal, declared himself something of an old hand in the art of the postThanksgiving splurge.

“It’s not the cheapest time in the year. After Christmas is cheaper, but I came today because there are more options -- nothing is left after Christmas,” he said sagely.

He too was through the doors

early but was taking a more tactical approach, refusing to jump right into the spending bonanza.

“I am well-prepared and have a list of four brands I want -- Columbia, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren -- and I will get,” he said firmly.

Jeanette, a local who gave her age as “104,” was another refusing to get carried away by the discounts of more than 50 per cent.

Taking a breather on a bench while her daughter and granddaughter did the running about, she had scouted a Michael Kors purse online before moving in for the kill for just over $100.

“I did not want to pay the high price before but it was on a pretty big discount,” she said with a glint in her eye, rubbing her cheeks to stave off the cold. - AFP

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Oil companies set to slash investments as prices dip Investors are concerned that companies including Royal Dutch Shell and BP won’t have enough cash to cover both investment plans and dividends

LONDON: For the world’s largest oil companies, the accelerating crash in crude prices will probably mean scrapping investment plans as CEOs defend dividend payments to shareholders.

With US markets closed for Thanksgiving, oil company shares in Europe and Asia plunged after crude prices slumped to a fouryear low near $70 a barrel on the back of Opec’s decision to leave output unchanged. Investors are concerned that companies including Royal Dutch Shell and BP won’t have enough cash to cover both investment plans and dividends.

“What we are about to see is a knife taken to non-Opec industry capex,” analysts an Bernstein Research led by Oswald Clint said in a note on Friday. “It’s painful, but yields remain payable.”

The greater dilemma for oil producers is that even as crude drops, the cost of developing new reserves remain higher than ever.

An extended period of lower prices risks a plunge in investment that prevents companies from being able to replace production as existing fields dwindle. In ensuring investors get paid, companies may have to sacrifice future growth.

Most new projects open to large oil producers include deep water offshore developments, shale fields in the US and Canadian tar sands, the sources that the International Energy Agency said this month are vital to ensuring global energy supply. They’re also among the costliest to develop.

Global production US shale, for instance, accounted for about 20 percent of world investment in oil in 2013 and supplied only four per cent of global production, according to Mark Lewis and Peter Oppitzhauser, analysts at Kepler Cheuvreux in Paris. Other places vulnerable to lower spending include heavy oil fields in Venezuela, Brazil’s deep-

EUROPEAN UNION

EU gives France and Italy last chance to fix bloated budgets BRUSSELS: The European Union (EU) on Friday gave France, Italy and Belgium an extra three months until March to fix their bloated budgets, but warned it would still enforce humiliating sanctions if they fail to curb spending. The three countries were singled out by the European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, as it unveiled a tough assessment of eurozone budgets under new powers granted during the debt crisis.

But instead of immediately imposing penalties, Brussels gave them extra time to implement tough reforms, delaying a harsh verdict on national overspending amid global calls for Europe to ease up on austerity.

“The Commission will not hesitate to take its responsibilities” if they fail to take steps by March, Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said as he announced the assessments.

France in particular had made “limited progress”, the commission said, referring to the fact that

Growing criticism But there has been criticism of those retailers that throw their doors open on Thanksgiving instead of actually waiting for Black Friday.

Don’t the store workers deserve a day off to spend with their families too?

“They don’t have to work. I guess they do it for the money. They are not being forced here,” said Henri Brown, 17, who along with his 15-year-old brother Will was among the first in.

“And they might enjoy the rush of people,” added Henri, who forked out over $130 in the first hour and proclaimed himself happy with his early purchases: two jackets -- a dark blue one he was already wearing -- sunglasses and trousers.

Vera Luo, a 19-year-old from China studying in Washington,

came armed with a suitcase she was ready to fill to bursting with new acquisitions that she said would be more expensive in China.

She and two friends paid $60 for a taxi from the US capital and they were in it for the long haul.

“I have no idea where my friends are or when I will find them,” said the economics student, clasping a directory of the more than 100 stores in the complex.

“So far I have only bought lens solution, but I have a budget of $500 and I want to buy a bag from Coach. “I don’t know how long we will be here. Maybe all night.”

– Bloomberg file picture

Paris is set for a deficit of 4.3 per cent of GDP in 2015, way above the EU’s 3.0 per cent ceiling.

Four other countries -- Spain, Malta, Austria and Portugal -were also way off meeting the rules, the commission said.

‘A clear calendar’ New European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker explained the decision to extend the deadline on the grounds that the countries concerned needed more time to fix their budgets.

“I made a choice not to sanction because that would have been easy,” Juncker told journal-

ists from a group of European newspapers. But he insisted that the Commission remained tough on budget overspending and the need for reform.

In conversations with the French and Italian leaders, “I made it clear that I don’t want only promises but a clear calendar,” the former Luxembourg premier said.

Pullback by Juncker The pullback by Juncker, who took office on November 1, comes amid growing fears that problems in the 18-nation eurozone could spread to other parts of the world.

The bloc is caught in a slump of near-zero growth, near-deflation and high unemployment. Data released on Friday showed inflation in the eurozone slowed to 0.3 per cent in November, while unemployment held at 11.5 per cent.

The Commission’s tolerance however risks angering an impatient Germany, frustrated with the slow pace of reform in Paris and Rome. - AFP

cent tumble in benchmark Brent crude prices, oil producers expected to reduce investment. Shell, Italy’s Eni and Houston-based ConocoPhillips all said last month they would cut capital spending to maintain profitability.

CUTTING SPENDING: Shell, Italy’s Eni and Houston-based Cono-

coPhillips all said last month they would cut capital spending to maintain profitability. — Bloomberg file picture

water and Iraq, Lewis said. “The irony of the times is that the breakeven threshold for oil prices is higher, not lower, than it has been,” said CSIS Energy and National Security Program director Sarah Ladislaw. “To the extent that the market is not incentivising that investment, what you end up with is a period, five to 10 years in the future, where there has been dramatic under- investment.”

The IEA, an adviser for the world’s industrialised countries, warned this month in its annual World Energy Outlook that the US

shale boom is masking threats to supply, partly because of the cost of developing new oil and gas reserves.

New wells “At $70 a barrel for Brent, it is hard to imagine how any new major international project gets the green light from the majors,” Lewis at Kepler Cheuvreux said in an email on Thursday. Prices at these levels “will also put a huge squeeze on shale companies looking to drill new wells.”

Even before Thursday’s 6.7 per

Exploration spending At Friday’s prices, exploration spending is likely to fall 50 per cent, while investment in developing new fields already discovered will drop 10 per cent, Bernstein said.

“Oil companies will keep focusing on high-margin projects,” said Sveen Nilsen, an analyst at Swedbank Markets in Oslo. “That will happen at the expense of low-margin things like oil sands and Arctic projects.”

Meanwhile, large oil and gas companies remain among the best payers of dividends. Shell’s yield on Friday is 5.3 per cent, while BP pays 6.1 per cent. That compares with an average of 2.3 per cent for the MSCI World Index.

“We do not see any of the companies covering both capex and dividends in the current environment,” Barclays analysts said in a note to clients on Thursday on the impact of lower prices on the top European oil producers. “Recent conference calls have seen management teams highlight that dividends remain a priority.” - Bloomberg News

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FEATURE

IN DUBLIN,

a 31-year-old bicycle rickshaw driver is in the cross hairs of the Venezuelan government for black market currency trading. The driver said he is a former television producer who last year joined the ranks of Venezuelans moving to the Irish capital. For some, the draw was not just the chance to study English in the city of James Joyce and Roddy Doyle: it was a chance to obtain work visas and supplement their income by selling euros on the black market 4,400 miles away in Caracas, even at the risk of jail for breaking Venezuelan currency laws.

Preparing for another 10pm to 6am weekend shift ferrying passengers across the city, the driver said he sold euros for bolivars three times on the black market back home, with 300 euros ($385) the most at one time. He asked that he not be identified to protect his identity after Venezuela cut off funds to students in Ireland and threatened to imprison students guilty of currency fraud for as long as seven years.

This month, Irish authorities laid out a plan to combat abuses in English language schools acting as ‘visa factories’ after Venezuela’s government said the real purpose of some schools was to allow students work.

As President Nicolas Maduro’s administration faces a shortage of foreign currency and upcoming bond repayments, it also suspected that students were taking advantage of a complex system of exchange rates that sold them euros at a preferential rate for educational purposes.

Under that system, students could buy the currency for about for 8.1 bolivars per euro. The students could then sell the euros, together with any cash earned by working in Dublin, back on the illegal black market, where a euro currently fetches more than ten times the official rate.

Currency controls The South American country has maintained strict currency controls introduced by former President Hugo Chavez since 2003. Under the system, importers of food and medicine and students studying authorised subjects abroad could buy dollars at the official rate of 6.3 bolivars.

On the black market, one dollar currently buys about 97 bolivars and a euro fetches 124, according to dolartoday.com, a website that tracks the rate at the Colombian border. The bolivar has lost 58 per cent of its value on the black market in the past year.

Students moving abroad could apply for school fees, medical insurance and about 1,300 euros a month for maintenance. Students said they could sell the euros at the black market rate through online trading sites or when traveling home.

Black market The number of Venezuelans registering to live in Ireland rose to 2,413 in 2013 from 274 in 2008.

Suspicious that students were in Ireland mainly to work, and playing the black market, Venezuela began tapering off euros to the students earlier this year, before blocking all transfers in June.

Around the same time, the former television producer started working as a rickshaw driver, he said in an interview in a cafe just off Grafton Street, a busy city center area teeming with bars and stores.

Students who could find work stayed, while others left, he said.

The students said they have been impoverished by the government’s decision to cut off euros.

Venezuela’s embassy in London, which covers Ireland, didn’t reply to e-mail or phone requests for comment.

The system “will return at some

Students could buy the currency for about for 8.1 bolivars per euro.

The students could then sell the euros, together with any cash earned by working in Dublin, back on the illegal black market, where a euro currently fetches more than ten times the official rate

stage,” said Tiago Mascarenhas, marketing director at Seda College, a bustling English-language school in Dublin. “They will look for a better process. This is just the way it happens in Venezuela — everything changes.”

Choose Ireland In 2013, 617 Venezuelans enrolled in Seda, rising from seven three years earlier. Now, the number of new students from Venezuela has dropped to almost zero, Mascarenhas said. He said Seda ensures students abide by government rules, including a requirement that they attend at least 80 per cent of classes.

Students say they chose Ireland for a number of reasons. First, studying in Dublin is cheaper than

London, for example. Second, until June, Venezuelan students coming to Dublin didn’t need a visa before arriving.

Once in Ireland, they applied for a visa, allowing them to work 20 hours a week while studying and 40 hours a week when courses finish. Venezuelans could take cash earned by working in Dublin, add them to those provided by the state, and sell them on the black market.

Three months ago, the government changed the visa system, partly ‘on concerns regarding sudden changes in the pattern of Venezuelan immigration to Ireland,’ the Justice Ministry said in an e-mail response to questions. Since June 24, Venezuelan students must apply for a visa before entry.

Prosecutor probe Earlier that month, Cencoex, which runs Venezuela’s exchange system, said it had asked prosecutors to probe whether students in Ireland had obtained foreign currency for uses other than those for which they had requested.

Virtually all Venezuelan students in Ireland engage in currency arbitrage, said a second student who asked that she not be identified, speaking over coffee near St. Stephen’s Green. The woman, who said she’s working in a hotel, said Venezuelans are entitled to do so because they own the bolivars the government exchanged for euros.

Cencoex asked for Irish government assistance to check attendance records for about 600 Venezuelans at Dublin language schools which have closed down.

Three schools shut as immigration authorities suspended them from taking on new students while investigating ‘alleged irregularities’ on immigration, a government taskforce said in a report in July. Other schools have since closed ‘at short notice,’ the Justice Ministry said.

Immigration permission “I have to be satisfied that the service we are selling is quality education rather than immigration permission,” Irish Justice Minister Francis Fitzgerald said in a speech on September 2. “In respect to certain parts of the industry, I am simply not satisfied that this is the case.”

Some students said they have done nothing wrong and linked Venezuela’s decision to cut off funds to a need to hoard dollars and euros as bond repayments near.

Venezuela has $4.5 billion of dollar bonds maturing in October, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The country’s foreign reserves reached an 11-year low of $20 billion on August 21.

Venezuela’s bonds tumbled after Harvard University economist Ricardo Hausmann this month questioned the government’s decision to pay bondholders in the face of shortages of everything from basic medicine to toilet paper. Maduro promised on September 10 to pay Venezuela’s obligations “down to the last dollar.”

Cutting off euros ‘is a blanket approach to English language schools and to English language students by the Venezuelan authorities that seems to be based on several misunderstandings,’ David Moore, spokesman for the Dublin-based Irish Council for International Students, said in a statement in June. He said that attendance records may not have been kept by some schools.

“It would be wholly unjust if charges were pressed against students by the Venezuelan authorities on the basis of the deficiencies of others,” he said.

Venezuelans have begun seeking asylum in Ireland, with 25 applications in the first eight months of the year, according to the Justice Ministry. There were none in 2012 or 2013.

Rickshaw business Meanwhile, joining the other Venezuelans and Brazilians who dominate the rickshaw business in the city, the former television producer is getting ready for work.

Speaking in English, he said he pays 80 euros a week to hire a rickshaw and lives on his tips. On weekdays, he works until 4:30 a.m., he said.

He said he makes around 200 euros a week, pulling revelers through Dublin’s streets. His job has at least one upside, he said, as he prepares to resume his studies after cutting a deal with his language school on the price. “It’s good for my English,” he said. – Bloomberg News

S AT U R DAY, N OV E MB E R 2 9, 2 0 14

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MARKET China overtakes Japan as world’s second-largest stock market market that was among the world’s worst performers from late 2010 through the middle of last year.

It comes as authorities give foreign investors unprecedented access to mainland shares through the Shanghai-Hong Kong exchange link.

China’s market capitalisation rose to $4.48 trillion on Thursday after a 33 per cent rise this year, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

Japan’s slipped to $4.46 trillion and has dropped 3.2 per cent since end December

STRONG FUNDAMENTALS: The Shanghai Index has climbed three times as much as Tokyo’s Topix this year. — Bloomberg file picture

HONG KONG: China surpassed Japan as the world’s second-largest stock market for the first time in three years amid growing investor confidence that policy makers in Beijing will revive the economy with monetary stimulus.

China’s market capitalisation climbed to $4.48 trillion on Thursday after a 33 per cent increase this year, according to data compiled by

three times as much as Tokyo’s Topix this year.

China cut interest rates for the first time since 2012 last week and economists predict authorities will take more steps to support an economy headed for its slowest annual expansion since 1990. The Shanghai gauge still has a priceto-earnings ratio 21 per cent lower than its Japanese counterpart.

Bloomberg. Japan’s slipped to $4.46 trillion and has dropped 3.2 per cent since the end of December. China was briefly the second-biggest market, behind the US, in March 2011 after an earthquake in Japan sent shares tumbling in Tokyo.

While the weakening yen played a role in Japan’s shrinking market value in dollar terms, the Shanghai Composite Index has climbed

NAT I O N W I D E S U RV E Y

NOT MANY TAKERS: British housing market activity and price rises have been slowing since the middle of the year. — Bloomberg file picture

UK house price inflation declines to 11-month low LONDON: The annual rate of increase in British house prices fell to its lowest level in nearly a year this month as the property market continued to lose momentum, figures from mortgage lender Nationwide showed on Friday.

Nationwide said house prices rose 8.5 per cent in the year to November, the smallest increase since December last year, and well below June’s near 10-year peak of 11.8 per cent.

British housing market activity and price rises have been slowing since the middle of the year, in part because of steps by regulators to require lenders to make tougher checks on borrowers’ ability to repay mortgages.

Price growth in the three months to November — which many analysts view as the best

guide to the short-term trend in house prices — fell to 0.9 per cent, the lowest since June 2013.

Sedate rate “With housing market activity appreciably off its early-2014 highs, we suspect house prices will generally rise at a much more sedate rate over the coming months,” said Howard Archer, chief UK economist at IHS Global Insight.

The British Bankers’ Association said on Tuesday its members were approving the fewest mortgages since May 2013. Nationwide said the number of approvals was just two thirds of its long-run average.

“There is something of a disconnect between the slowdown in the housing market in recent months and broader economic

indicators, which have remained relatively upbeat,” said Robert Gardner, chief economist at Nationwide.

Britain’s economy looks set to be the fastest growing among the major industrialised nations this year, though wage growth is still very weak, making houses hard to afford for many British workers.

The Bank of England is also expected to raise interest rates next year for the first time since 2007.

Gardner added that the national slowdown could not be put down solely to weakness in London — where annual price growth has fallen sharply from rates of more than 20 per cent earlier this year — as previous data for the three months to September had shown price growth slowing in 10 out of 13 British regions. - Reuters

“I still have a very bullish stance” on Chinese shares, said Dickie Wong, an executive director of research at Kingston Financial Group in Hong Kong. “They’re trading at low valuations.”

The growth in China’s market value, helped by the resumption of initial public offerings in January after a more than yearlong freeze, marks a turnaround for an equity

Market rally China’s stocks rose for a seventh day today, sending the Shanghai gauge to a three-year high on record turnover, amid speculation the central bank may continue to loosen monetary policy. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) on Thursday refrained from selling repurchase agreements for the first time since July. That follows the November 21 announcement that lending and deposit rates would be cut.

The Shanghai measure rose two per cent to 2,682.84 at Friday’s close. It’s up 27 per cent

this year, set for its steepest annual advance since 2009. The index trades at 12.8 times reported earnings, compared with 16.2 for Japan’s Topix index.

Banks dominate China’s biggest companies. Industrial & Commercial Bank of China is the largest mainland-listed company with a market value of $223.1 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Agricultural Bank of China and China Merchants Bank were ranked second and third.

ICBC has advanced 13 per cent in Shanghai in 2014, while Agribank gained 15 per cent and China Merchants Bank climbed 12 per cent. Bloomberg News

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RBI under pressure to cut key interest rate

TREND MICRO REPORT

While almost all economists expect Eva Chen, president of Trend Micro. — Bloomberg file picture

Rajan to ignore the

Hacker risks grow as more homes connect to Internet

clamour and hold the benchmark rate at 8 per cent on December 2, markets are pricing in a reduction and forecasters are

TOKYO: As Samsung Electronics and General Electric make refrigerators that can tell you’re out of milk and ovens that can be switched on with a mobile phone, Eva Chen warns such advances may also let hackers into your home.

The president of Trend Micro, the Tokyo-based developer of security software, said threats from hacking will spread as appliances, cameras and other devices connect to the Internet. She’s betting that protection for the so-called Internet of things will be among the main reasons her company will more than double its number of users in three years.

“You’ll feel like you’re living in a glass house,” Chen, 55, said in a recent interview in Tokyo. “The consumer doesn’t even know that their device is hooking up to the Internet and sending all this information out.”

As Samsung, GE, Apple and Google are racing to infuse more technology into everyday devices, the potential risks are beginning to emerge. This year, the European Cybercrime Centre warned that Web-connected appliances could lead to new types of targeted attacks, theft and possibly physical injuries.

Household hacking While the majority of incidents of hackings into the home have been limited to Web camera intrusions, researchers have found ways to tamper with everything from cars to toilets.

The market for the Internet of things will probably almost quadruple to $7.1 trillion by 2020, according to IDC. That’s enough to lure major tech companies such as Samsung Electronics, which has released remotely-controlled lights and washing machines.

Google purchased Nest Labs, a maker of connected thermostats and smoke detectors, earlier this year for $3.2 billion.

Makers of household goods say they’re aware of the risks and are taking steps to protect their products. Japan’s Toshiba, which makes fridges with internal cameras and remotely-controlled vacuum cleaners, secures its connected appliances through a system that requires encrypted passwords, according to Yuichiro Honda, an official at the company’s planning department. Panasonic encrypts all communication to and from connected home appliances, as well as passwords at multiple levels, spokeswoman Chieko Gyobu said. - Bloomberg News

moving up their interest rate-cut calls

NEW DELHI: After months of holding one of Asia’s highest interest rates to fight inflation, Indian central bank Governor Raghuram Rajan is getting closer to a cut.

Growth probably slowed last quarter, inflation is at a three-year low, China lowered borrowing costs and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is calling for a cut. While almost all economists expect Rajan to ignore the clamour and hold the benchmark rate at eight per cent on December 2, markets are pricing in a reduction and forecasters are moving up their rate-cut calls.

“There is some kind of limited room for easing as we go ahead, but not immediately,” said Upasna Bhardwaj, an economist at ING Vysya Bank in Mumbai. While inflation has surprised positively, she said, the central bank “should wait for that noise to fade off and also be very, very sure that the easing trajectory will continue.”

A rate cut would signal a divergence among the biggest emerging markets, with India and China eas-

FIGHTING INFLATION: A rate cut would signal a divergence among

Rajan raised interest rates three times since taking office 15 months ago and has held discussions with the government to adopt a new policy framework that will probably include a formal inflation target and rate-setting committee

the biggest emerging markets, with India and China easing policy as Russia and Brazil raise rates to fight inflation. — Bloomberg file picture

ing policy to boost growth as Russia and Brazil raise rates to fight inflation. Rajan has kept one of Asia’s highest interest rates unchanged since January after pledging to lower Indian inflation once and for all when he took over the central bank last year.

“While we do not expect the RBI to drop its guard against longterm inflation pressures, we think the RBI will find it difficult to ignore the large easing in inflation momentum and is likely to tone down its hitherto hawkish policy rhetoric,” Siddhartha Sanyal and Rahul Bajoria at Barclays wrote in a report on Thursday. There’s an “outside chance” of a cut next week “if Governor Rajan wants to surprise,” they wrote.

‘Dose of caution’ Any cut would be balanced with a “generous dose of caution” against estimates of more near-term easing, they said. While consumerprice inflation eased to 5.52 per cent in October, the slowest pace

since the index was created in January 2012, a Bloomberg survey this month predicted the rate will be seven per cent by March and 6.5 per cent a year later.

Rajan is seeking to keep CPI within six per cent by January 2016. He’s raised interest rates three times since taking office 15 months ago and has held discussions with the government to adopt a new policy framework that will probably include a formal inflation target and rate-setting committee.

At the December 2 meeting, 29 of 30 economists in a separate survey see him holdings rates, while one predicts a cut to 7.75 per cent.

Economists last month advanced forecasts for a reduction to 7.75 per cent between April and June, compared with an earlier projection of October to December, and now see the benchmark falling to 7.5 per cent by the end of 2015.

Government pressure Government officials are calling for the rate to fall sooner. Jaitley

said last week that reducing the cost of capital would give a “good fillip” to the economy, while Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said it’s time to reduce interest rates so contractors can access cheaper funding.

Lower borrowing costs Lower borrowing costs would benefit India, Arvind Virmani, a member of the central bank’s advisory panel, said in a November 19 interview. Gross domestic product probably grew 5.1 per cent in the three months through September from a year earlier, according to the median of 36 economists in a Bloomberg survey before data due at 5:30pm local time on Friday.

That’s slower than the previous quarter’s 5.7 per cent. - Bloomberg News

HAVE YOUR SAY

Send us your comments at facebook.com/timesofoman blog.timesofoman.com haveyoursay@timesofoman.com MARKETS

Indian shares hit new highs MUMBAI: Showing no signs of exhaustion, the market continued upward sprint on the first day of December contract as both the key yardsticks, the S&P BSE Sensex and the CNX Nifty galloped to their new historic highs, up by 255 points and 94 points respectively, ahead of GDP data later in the day and RBI’s monetary policy on coming on Tuesday, extending gains for the third straight day.

The BSE 30-share barometer resumed better and shot up to an intra-day all-time peak of 28,822.37 before coming down slightly on weak European cues to log its record closing high of 28,693.99, up by 255.08 points or 0.90 per cent. The broader 50-issue CNX Nifty of the NSE also flared up by 94.05 points or 1.11 per cent to register its fresh closing peak of 8,588.25.

Rupee tumbles The rupee fell by another 16 paise to register its almost ninemonth low of 62.03 against the American currency following sustained dollar demand from importers amid firm USD overseas, completing two-day fall.

At the Forex market, the rupee commenced lower at 61.93 a dollar from previous close of 61.87 and tried to recover to touch an intra-day high of 61.8775. - PTI

B

W

LIFE & STYLE

SECTION

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM S AT U R DAY, N OV EMB ER 2 9, 2 0 14

‘PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR’ A DELIGHTFULLY SILLY SEQUEL

e’ve seen it before with Scrat, the sabertoothed squirrel from Ice Age, who parlayed a cameo in the first film into a cottage industry of increasingly annoying shorts and a camera-hogging turn in the second sequel, Dawn of the Dinosaurs.

But unlike that acorn-obsessed, chipmunk-cheeked, paleo-rodent ham, the Flightless Four known as Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private are ready for their moment in the sun. Penguins of Madagascar is a delightfully silly star turn for this quartet of absurd little birds, who operate as a team of commandos.

There are several reasons why this works.

First is the voice talent. Although none of them is a marquee name, the actors who bring the penguins to life — Tom McGrath, Chris Miller, Conrad Vernon and Christopher Knights — do so with verve. (Special credit goes to Vernon, who voices the almost nonverbal, but nevertheless vo-

cally expressive Rico, who is often shown coughing up indigestible objects that he has swallowed.)

Other notably funny turns in “Penguins” include John Malkovich and Benedict Cumberbatch.

Playing to type, the A-list actors provide the voices for, respectively, a villainous, emotionally unstable octopus named Dave and a heroic, cucumber-cool secret agent gray wolf whose name is classified. (That’s right — the character’s name is never given — “My name is classified” he tells us, in that mellifluous British baritone of his — leading to some giddy “Who’s on first?” confusion.)

Which brings me to the real reason for the movie’s success — the writing of the story, which concerns Dave’s plot to kidnap penguins from all of the world’s zoos and turn them into monsters.

Fleshing out characters created by Madagascar directors and writers Eric Darnell and McGrath (whose voice brings Skipper’s MacGyver-like can-do spirit to life), the screenplay by

The career trajectory of the four wisecracking cartoon penguins introduced as minor characters in ‘Madagascar’ has been one of meteoric ascendancy

John Aboud, Michael Colton and Brandon Sawyer has a fizzy, popculture pizazz, tempered by a distinctly vaudeville sensibility. It’s smart, but not brainy; dumb, but never inane.

Colton, who was an editor of the Harvard Lampoon in college, worked briefly at The Washington Post in the late 1990s before leaving to form the now-defunct online humour magazine Modern Humorist with Aboud. Their work with Sawyer, a children’s TV writer whose credits include the Penguins series on Nickelodeon, is perfectly aimed at the target demographic of silly but savvy 10-year-olds. One recurring joke involves Dave barking orders to his tentacled henchmen, leading to a series of increasingly nutty puns name-checking famous movie stars: “Nicolas, cage them!”

“Charlize, there on the death ray!”

“Drew, barry, more!”

It’s gloriously juvenile, but also very, very funny.

Other ingredients in this selfreferential, pop-culture puree

include a cameo by the German director Werner Herzog, playing the filmmaker and narrator of the penguin documentary that opens the film in Antarctica, where its prologue is set. Observing that our four heroes are “frozen with fear” on an icy precipice, Herzog orders his sound man to “give them a shove,” in order to increase the drama.

And increase it he does. One of those early scenes features a leopard seal eating a seagull. It’s an indication of the dark edge that will give the story its slightly grown-up astringency. Penguins of Madagascar is by no means inappropriate for kids, but there’s a coolly self-aware smirk to it that makes it palatable to people with driver’s licenses, too.

And, oh yes, the 3-D animation is a treat.

But the real charm of the film is its stars. As Skipper says, “A good plan is about more than effecty stuff and big words.” That’s equally true of a good movie.

— Michael O’Sullivan/The Washington Post.

B6

SATU RDAY, NOVEMB ER 29, 2014

ENTERTAINMENT CINEMA SCHEDULE

BAHJA CINEMA SCREEN 3 Northemen: A Viking Saga (Act ) (15+ ) Cast: James Norton, Ryan Kwanten 1.00 pm Happy New Year ( Act |Rom) (PG 12 ) Cast: Shahrukh Khan , Abhishek Bachchan, Deepika Padukone 3.00, 6.30, 9.45 pm

10:00 am, 12:00 , 09:45 & 11:45 pm.

Gold Class: 07:00 & 11:00 pm

Falcon Rising (2D) (Act| Adv) (15+) Cast: Michael Jai White, Laila Ali 12:05, 2:00, 5:30, 9:45, 11:45 pm Horrible Bosses 2 (2D) (Com) (15+) Cast: Jason Bateman, Charlie Day 1:00, 3:15, 7:30, 9:45 pm Northmen - A Viking Saga (2D) (Action | Adventure) (15+) Cast: James Norton, Ryan Kwanten 4:00, 11:45 pm Penguines of Madagascar (2D) (Animation | Adventure) (PG12) 12:30 pm Penguines of Madagascar (3D) (Animation | Adventure) (PG12) 2:15, 4:00, 5:45 pm The right kind of wrong (2D) (Animation | Adventure) (12+) 7:45 pm Mindscape (2D) (Dra| Thriller) (12+) Cast: Mark Strong, Taissa Farmiga, 6:00 pm Wahed Saaidy (2D) (Comedy) (15+) Cast: Mohamed Ramadan, Randa El Behiry, Alaa Zinhom 8:00 pm The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (2D) (Adv | Sci Fi) (PG12) 9:30, 11:45 pm

Horrible Bosses 2 (2D): (Comedy) (15+) Cast: Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis 12:00 , 5:45 & 7:45 pm.

Gold Class: 05:00 & 09:00 pm Falcon Rising (2D): (Action) (15+) Cast: Michael Jai White, Neal McDonough, Laila Ali

Northmen- A Viking Saga (2D): (Action/Adventure) (15+) Cast: James Norton, Ryan Kwanten 2:00 & 11:45 pm.

The Hunger Games-Mockingjay Part 1 (2D): (Adventure/Sci-Fi) (PG12) 09:30 pm Gold Class: 02:30 pm

Beyond (2D): (Sci-Fi/Drama) (12+) Cast: Richard J. Danum, Gillian MacGregor 04:00 pm Penguins Of Madagscar (2D): (Animation/Comedy) (PG12) Cast: Tom McGrath, Chris Miller 10:15 am Penguins Of Madagscar (3D): (Animation/Comedy) (PG12) Cast: Tom McGrath, Chris Miller, Christopher Knights 02:00 pm, 03:45 pm & 05:30 pm.

Gold Class: 12:30 pm Ungli (2D): (Drama/Comedy) (_) Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Kangana Ranaut 07:15 pm

Horrible Bosses 2 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2D (15+) (Comedy) Cast: Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis 1:45 , 3:00 , 5:45 , 7:45 , 9:45 pm Falcon Rising â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2D (15+) (Act | Adv) Cast: Michael Jai White, Laila Ali 3:45 , 7:00 , 9:45, 11:45 pm Penguins of Madagascar â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2D (PG12) (Animation | Adv | Comedy) Cast: Tom McGrath, Chris Miller 12:30 pm Penguins of Madagascar â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 3D (PG12) (Animation | Adv | Co) 2:15 , 4:00 , 5:45 pm Ungli â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2D (PG) (Comedy | Drama) Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Kangana Ranaut, Sanjay Dutt 12:45 , 7:30 , 11:15 pm Mindscape â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2D (12+) (Dr | Thriller) Cast: Mark Strong, Taissa Farmiga 3:00 , 5:00 , 11:45 pm Ithihasa â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2D (TBC) (M) (Co| Fan ) Cast: Shine Tom Chacko, Anusree 12:15 , 8:30 pm Wahed Saaidy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2D (15+) (Comedy) Cast: Mohamed Ramadan, Randa El Behiry, Alaa Zinhom, Abdulla Meshref 6:45 pm The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2D (PG12) (Adv | Sci-Fi) Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemswort

SCREEN 1 Ungli (Action| Drama) (PG ) Cast: Imran Hashmi, Sanjay Dutt, Randeep Hooda, Kangna Ranaut 3.30, 6.30, 9.30pm SCREEN 2 Ungli (Action| Drama) (PG ) Cast: Imran Hashmi, Sanjay Dutt, Randeep Hooda, Kangna Ranaut 1:00 pm Northemen: A Viking Saga (Action |Adventure) (15+ ) Cast: James Norton, Ryan Kwanten, Charlie Murphy 3.30, 5.30, 7.30, 9.30 pm

4 :45 , 11:45 pm Kaaviya Thalaivan â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2D (PG) (T) (Drama | Romance) Cast: Siddharth, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Vedika 9:00 pm

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Falcon Rising (Act | Adv) (15+) Cast: Michael Jai White 03:15, 05:15, 09:45, 11:45 pm Penguins of Madagascar â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 3D (Animation | Adv | Comedy) (PG12) 02:45, 04:30, 06:15 pm Ungli (Comedy | Drama) (PG) Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Kangana Ranaut, Sanjay Dutt 09:15, 11:30 pm Ithihasa (C | Romance) Cast: Shine Tom Chacko, Anusree, P Sreekumar, Swapna , Balu Varghese 07:00 pm Horrible Bosses 2 (Comedy) (15+) Cast: Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis 02:45, 05:00, 07:15, 09:45 pm The Right Kind of Wrong (Co|R) (12+) 08:00 pm The Hunger Game: Mockingjay Part 1 (Adventure | Sci-Fi) (PG12) 11:45 pm

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (Adventure | Sci-Fi) (PG12) Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth 5:30 pm Horrible Bosses 2 (Comedy) (15+)

Cast: Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, 7:45, 11:15 pm Ungli (Hindi) (Comedy | Drama) (PG) 12:30, 09:00 pm Falcon Rising (Ac | Adventure) (15+) Cast: Michael Jai White, Laila Ali 03:30, 09:45, 11:45 pm Penguins of Madagascar (3D) (Animation | Adv| Comedy) (PG12) 02:45, 4:30 pm Ithihasa (Mal) (Com| Fantasy) (TBC) Cast: Shine Tom Chacko, Anusree, 12:45, 06:15 pm

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Part 1 (2D/12+)(Action/Sc-Fi) 11:30pm Horrible Bosses 2 (2D/15+) (Comedy) 12:00pm, 2:30pm, 5:45pm, 7:45pm Falcon Rising (2D/15+) (Act) 10:00am, 12:30pm, 3:45pm, 9:45pm, 11:45pm The Right Kind of Wrong (12+) (Comedy/Romance)2:00pm, 4:30pm Penguins of Madagascar (2D/PG12) (Animation/Adventure/Comedy) 10:15am Penguins of Madagascar (3D/PG12) (Animation/Adventure/Comedy) 2:15, 4:00 & 5:45pm Northmen - A Viking Saga (2D/15+) (Action/Adventure) 10:30am, 11:45pm Ungli (2D/12+) (Hindi-Com/Drama) 12:00pm, 9:15pm Wahed Saaidy (2D/TBC) (Arabic-Co) 7:30pm Kaaviya Thalaivan (2D/TBC) (Comedy)6:15pm Ithihasa (2D/TBC) (Co/Romance) 9:00pm

Horrible Bosses 2 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2D (15+) (Com) Cast: Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis 4.00 pm, 8.00 pm, & 10.00 pm; CP No : 2454 ( 15+) Dumb and dumber To ( Comedy) Cast : Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels 3.45 pm; CP No : 2338 (PG12) WAHED SAAIDY (Comedy ) Cast: Mohamed Ramadan, Randa El Behiry 2.00 pm & 6.00 pm. CP No : 2455 (15+) THE RIGHT KIND OF WRONG: (Comedy) Ryan Kwanten, Sara Canning 2.00 pm, & 5.45 pm; CP No : 2453 (12+) The Babadook (HORROR ) Cast : Essie Davis, Daniel Henshall, 11.55 pm ; CP No : 2400 (15+) The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1 (Action) ( PG 12) Cast Jennifer Lawrence 7.30 pm, 9.45 pm & 11.55 pm; CP No: 399

Film Information - 24540856 / Advance Booking - 24540855 Website: www.albahjacinemaoman.com

STARS CINEMA Film information 24791641 / 24786776 Kaaviya Thalaivan (Tamil) (Com/Drama) Cast: Prithvi Raj & Siddaryh 3:00 & 6:15pm at Cinema Main, 9:45 pm at Cinema 3 Vellimoonga (Mal) (Dr/Com) Cast: Biju Menon & Asif Ali 3:30, 6:30 pm at Cinema 2, 10:00pm Cinema Main Varsham (Mal) (Com/Dr) Cast: Mamooty, Asha Sharath 3:45, 6:45 pm at Cinema 3, 9:30 pm at Cinema 2 Itihasa (Mal) (Drama/Com) Cast: Anusree & Shine Yom Chacok 3:45, 6:45 & 9:45 pm at Cinema 4

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

ACES ON BRIDGE

The abnormal can be the right play

SUDOKU

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

B I G NAT E

ACROSS 1 Execâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree 4 Obi-Wan player 8 Something phony 12 Cassius Clay 13 Auto-parts store 14 Polynesian carving 15 Kitchen herb 17 Harmful 18 Laughable 19 Grooms oneself 21 U-boat movie â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Bootâ&#x20AC;?

22 Took cover 23 Wraith 26 Snow vehicle 30 Hack down 31 Californiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Big -32 Charged particle 33 SanctiďŹ es 36 Ice hockey locale 38 Be billed 39 â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Vadis?â&#x20AC;?

40 Manually (2 wds.)

43 On the shelves 47 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; -back (mellow) 48 Parrot, for one

50 51 52 53 54 55

Vogue rival Graceful wrap Snake River loc.

Use a blowtorch Follow the trail Harden, as plaster

DOWN 1 Shirelles tune â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Saidâ&#x20AC;?

2 Blurt out 3 Televises 4 Parka 5 Cooking fats 6 Earth-conscious org.

7 Moth repellent 8 Knightsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mounts 9 Insect colony 10 Similar 11 Wire thicknesses 16 Martial art 20 Corduroy ridge 23 Keep it down!

24 Green shade 25 Athenaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s symbol 26 Train alternative 27 Perjure oneself

28 29 31 34 35 36 37 39 40

Geological period Spiral molecule Like Garbo -- for bear Purchase â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Mameâ&#x20AC;?

Sub â&#x20AC;&#x201D; (secretly) Peculiarity Spouted, as a

whale 41 Kind of lock 42 One of a Roman septet 44 Elevator pioneer 45 Sourdoughâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strike 46 Confound it!

49 Ms. Zetterling

Answer to previous puzzle

CORY Doctorow, a Canadian blogger, journalist and scienceďŹ ction author, claims, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Abnormal is so common, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s practically normal.â&#x20AC;?

If abnormal is normal, does that make normal abnormal? In bridge we have lots of normal bids and plays, but the deals in which we must produce the abnormal is one reason why the game has kept its appeal.

In todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deal, what is the abnormal play? South is in four spades. West leads the heart two in answer to his partnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opening bid.

North just shut his eyes and blasted into four spades. He hoped that even if his heart king was worthless, his partner would have a chance to rake in 10 tricks.

Assuming East has the heart ace (surely West would not have underled the ace), South starts with three top losers â&#x20AC;&#x201D; one spade and two hearts. He must avoid also losing a diamond trick. Who has the diamond king?

If West, the contract is going down when East shifts to that suit after taking two heart tricks.

Therefore, declarer must hope that East has that key card. Then the defenders can establish a diamond trick only if West leads the suit through dummyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ace. South must keep West off lead.

Declarer must play low from the dummy at trick one, not make the normal play of putting up the king on the off chance that West has underled the ace.

East wins with his jack and cashes the ace, but then has no winning continuation. Declarer drives out the spade ace, draws the rest of the trumps, and runs the clubs to discard his diamond loser.

He takes four spades, one diamond and ďŹ ve clubs. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; By Phillip Alder

FATHIMA SARAH

November 29, 2010

AYUSH MITESH NIMKAR November 29, 2006

ABDUL FATHAH

November 29, 2003

Previous puzzle Solution

CROSSWORD

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

S AT U R DAY, N OV E MB E R 2 9, 2 0 14

PRAYER TIMINGS

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

Y O U R B I R T H D AY

BORN today, you like to surround yourself with people who challenge you in mind, body and spirit.

You believe firmly that variety is the spice of life, and you cannot imagine anything less tolerable than a world where everyone thinks, acts, eats, plays and prays the same. You are one of the world’s great proponents of a “live and let live” philosophy, though yours would go further than the norm and advocate an active examination of anything one does not understand well. You are an intensely curious individual — as are most Sagittarians — and you are compelled to learn not from books, but from firsthand experience.

You are able to balance your professional activities and your personal affairs with remarkable skill, and one aspect of your life never seems to impinge upon another. You are, in fact, one of the most able individuals born under your sign, perhaps because of this ability to keep everything in equilibrium so much of the time.

Also born on this date are: Louisa May Alcott, author; Cathy Moriarty, actress; Kim Delaney, actress; Howie Mandel, comedian and TV host; Chuck Mangione, musician; C.S. Lewis, author; Busby Berkeley, choreographer.

12.00pm 3.04pm 5.24pm 6.39pm 5.11am

Sunset Sunrise (Tomorrow)

5:19pm 6.31am

High tide Low tide

2.23pm 8.57am

2:20am 7.35pm

FIND-IT-ALL

W E AT H E R

AIRLINES

M

ainly clear skies over most of the Sultanate with chances of late night to early morning low level clouds along the southeastern coasts and chance of dust rising over desert and open areas.

EXPECTED WIND: Wind will be northerly to northwesterly light to moderate becoming variable light at night over most the Sultanate.

SEA STATE: Moderate along the western coast of Musandam governorate and Oman Sea coast with maximum wave height

of 2.0 metres and slight along the southeastern coast with maximum wave height of 1.25 metres.

HORIZONTAL VISIBILITY: Good over most of the Sultanate becoming poor during fog formation and dust rising.

THE NEXT 48 HOURS OUTLOOK: Mainly clear skies over most of the Sultanate with chance of late night to early morning low level clouds along the southeastern coasts. Chances of high and medium clouds advection over the governorates of Musandam.

Max

OMAN

WORLD

Max 31 Min 25 Max 5 Min 3

Max 28 Min 13

Max 30 Min 22 Max 12 Min 6

Max 28 Min 21

Max -6 Min -11

Max 32 Min 18

Max 32 Min 20

Max 31 Min 16

Max 31 Min 21

SAGITTARIUS S

Max 31 Min 19

[[NOV. 22-DEC. 21] You can give what another dearly wants, but take care that you yourself don’t end up having to do without.

Max 30 Min 22

Max 23 Min 12

Max 29 Min 25 Max 27 Min 17

— www.met.gov.om

Min

GULF Abu Dhabi Doha Dubai Kuwait Manama Riyadh

27 26 27 18 23 21

21 19 21 9 17 12

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

18 16 8 0 2 21 29 7 25 12 26 29 16 13 24 31 20 3

16 9 3 -3 -1 16 25 1 23 9 13 23 9 5 14 26 11 3

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

CAPRICORN [DEC. 22-JAN 19] You can chip away at a project that you expect will take much longer than any of the experts may have told you.

AQUARIUS [JAN. 20-FEB. 18] You’ve been going back and forth on a certain issue long enough. It’s time to make a decision one way or the other.

PISCES [Feb. 19-March 20] You don’t necessarily have to go through official channels to get things done, but some people may object rather loudly.

ARIES [March 21-APRIL 19] You understand that time is of the essence, so if you can skip a few steps and get right to the heart of an issue, do it!

TAURUS [APRIL 20-MAY 20] You’re able to work a deal of sorts, which will result in your taking the reins of something that only you know how to control properly.

GEMINI [MAY 21-JUNE 20] If it’s money you want, money you can surely have — but it’s not likely to be handed to you on a silver platter.

An opportunity beckons.

CANCER [JUNE 21-JULY 22] You may not appreciate another’s comments about your behaviour. All you were trying to do was be honest and, ultimately, supportive.

LEO [JULY 23-AUG. 22] You can’t give another all you have, or you’ll have nothing left for yourself.

That’s just simple arithmetic — and it can’t be refuted!

VIRGO [AUG. 23-SEPT. 22] You know how to put things in a way that lets those around you breathe a little easier. Are you taking on too much, however?

LIBRA L [[SEPT. [S S 23-OCT. 22] It’s a good day for you to answer the questions you’ve been avoiding of late.

There are few risks, but much to gain.

SCORPIO S [[OCT. 23-NOV. 21] Appearances, while often deceiving, can steer you in the right direction.

You know precisely when to believe what you see.

B7

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: 4537080 Dhofar Region Muscat, Al Nahdha Road, Salalah.

Tel: 23291635 HOSPITALS Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre: 24485052 Atlas Hospital: Ruwi: 24811743/ Ghubra: 24504000 Al Musafir Specialised Medical Clinic: 24706453 Hatat Polyclinic LLC, Ruwi: 24563641, Azaiba: 24499269, Sohar: 2683006 Al Raffah Hospital: 24618900/1/2 Al Massaraat Clinic & Laboratory: 24566435 Al Makook Medical Coordinance Centre: 24499434 Apollo Medical Centre, Hamriya: 24787766, 24787780 Capital Polyclinic: 24707549 Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi: 24799760/1/2 Capital Clinic, Seeb: 24420740 Ceregem National Raak: 24485633 Dr Harub’s Clinic: 24563217 Elixir Health Centre: 24565802 Emirates Medical Centre: 24604540 1st Chiropractic Centre: 24472274 Hamdan Hospital: 23212340 International Medical Centre LLC: 24794501/2/3/4/5 Kims Oman Hospital: 24760100

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

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

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

SATURDAY FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

WY676 WY406 WY682 WY648 WY816 WY824 WY916 4H583 PK225 TK774 QR1132 ET624 EK866 GF560 EY384 FZ041 MS930 WY902 WY674 WY638 WY658 WY686 WY324 WY668 WY674 WY602 WY202 WY102 WY342 FZ043 G9114 WY236 WY226 PK191 WY242 EK862 WY346 WY252 WY212 IX443 QR1128 EY382 IX549 9W530 WY3302 WY282 WY3922 WY604 WY372 IX337 FZ037 WY424 WY904 PA450 BG023 NL771 WY606 IX817 WY918 WY906 WY3304 WY656 WY632 SV532 FZ045 WY274 MP95 WY204 WY292 WY610 WY246 WY264 WY232 QR1126 WY664 EK864 GF564 WY3306 G9116 WY254 RG125 FZ047 WY914 WY434 WY434 WY152 WY152 WY116 WY312 WY624 AI973 WY134 6.00E+81 WY414 9W534 AI907 QR1134 UL205 GF566 EY388 BA073 WY908 AI985 WY662 LX242 9W540 WY654 LH618 WY612 WY636 WY696 WY928 WY910 WY717

SUNDAY ETA

FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

JEDDAH 0005 CAIRO 0005 RIYADH 0005 KUWAIT 0010 BANGKOK 0015 KUALA LUMPUR 0055 SALALAH 0105 DACCA 0115 KARACHI 0210 ISTANBUL 0215 DOHA 0345 ADDIS ABABA 0350 DUBAI 0355 BAHRAIN 0405 ABU DHABI 0405 DUBAI 0415 CAIRO 0430 SALALAH 0630 JEDDAH 0640 ABU DHABI 0650 BAHRAIN 0700 RIYADH 0700 KARACHI 0700 DOHA 0710 JEDDAH 0730 DUBAI 0805 BOMBAY 0815 LONDON-HEATHROW 0820 LAHORE 0835 DUBAI 0850 SHARJAH 0915 HYDERABAD 0920 COCHIN 0930 TURBAT 0930 DELHI 0935 DUBAI 0940 ISLAM ABBAD 0940 MADRAS 0940 TRIVANDRUM 0940 COCHIN 1010 DOHA 1010 ABU DHABI 1015 TRIVANDRUM 1020 TRIVANDRUM 1035 MUKHAIZNA 1045 BANGALORE 1100 DUQUM OMAN 1105 DUBAI 1110 COLOMBO 1130 CALICUT 1155 DUBAI 1200 BEIRUT 1205 SALALAH 1215 LAHORE 1215 CHITTAGONG 1245 PESHAWAR 1300 DUBAI 1330 MANGALORE/ABU DHABI 1440 KHASAB 1440 SALALAH 1445 MUKHAIZNA 1445 BAHRAIN 1530 ABU DHABI 1535 JEDDAH 1550 DUBAI 1555 JAIPUR 1640 AMSTERDAM 1645 BOMBAY 1710 CALICUT 1720 DUBAI 1730 DELHI 1730 LUCKNOW 1735 HYDERABAD 1740 DOHA 1745 DOHA 1745 DUBAI 1800 BAHRAIN 1810 MUKHAIZNA 1845 SHARJAH 1915 MADRAS 1920 BATEEN AIRPORT OF AUH 1930 DUBAI 1945 SALALAH 1950 TEHRAN 2000 TEHRAN 2000 MALPENSA/ZURICH 2100 ZURICH 2110 FRANKFURT 2115 CHITTAGONG 2125 DUBAI 2125 DELHI 2125 PARIS 2130 BOMBAY 2130 AMMAN 2135 COCHIN 2140 MADRAS 2200 DOHA 2210 COLOMBO 2225 BAHRAIN 2240 ABU DHABI 2250 LONDON-HEATHROW/ABU DHABI 2255 SALALAH 2255 AHMEDABAD/BOMBAY 2310 DOHA 2315 ZURICH/DUBAI 2320 BOMBAY 2325 BAHRAIN 2330 FRANKFURT/ABU DHABI 2330 DUBAI 2335 ABU DHABI 2350 DAMMAM 2350 SALALAH 2350 SALALAH 2355 ZANZIBAR/DARESSLAM 2355

WY406 WY682 WY676 WY648 WY916 4H585 NL669 TK776 QR1132 ET624 EK866 EY384 GF560 FZ041 4H586 WY902 WY638 WY658 WY686 WY324 WY668 WY674 WY672 WY602 WY202 WY102 WY422 FZ043 NL768 G9114 WY236 WY226 WY242 WY252 EK862 WY212 QR1128 EY382 IX549 9W530 WY282 WY342 WY272 WY604 WY346 G9841 PK223 WY372 IX337 FZ037 WY384 WY332 WY904 WY3302 WY826 WY818 WY606 WY918 WY906 WY656 WY632 FZ045 WY664 WY204 WY292 WY3304 WY610 WY246 WY264 WY232 QR1126 EK864 GF564 WY646 WY3922 G9116 WY254 RG125 TG507 FZ047 WY914 WY434 WY614 KL441 WY312 AI973 WY624 6.00E+81 9W534 AI907 QR1134 UL205 WY338 GF566 EY388 BA073 AI985 WY662 LX242 9W540 LH618 WY654 WY612 WY696 WY910 WY717

CAIRO 0005 RIYADH 0005 JEDDAH 0005 KUWAIT 0010 SALALAH 0105 DACCA 0115 SIALKOT 0200 ISTANBUL/BAHRAIN 0300 DOHA 0345 ADDIS ABABA 0350 DUBAI 0355 ABU DHABI 0405 BAHRAIN 0405 DUBAI 0415 DOHA 0600 SALALAH 0630 ABU DHABI 0650 BAHRAIN 0700 RIYADH 0700 KARACHI 0700 DOHA 0710 JEDDAH 0730 MEDINA 0745 DUBAI 0805 BOMBAY 0815 LONDON-HEATHROW 0820 BEIRUT 0830 DUBAI 0850 LAHORE 0900 SHARJAH 0915 HYDERABAD 0920 COCHIN 0930 DELHI 0935 MADRAS 0940 DUBAI 0940 TRIVANDRUM 0940 DOHA 1010 ABU DHABI 1015 TRIVANDRUM 1020 TRIVANDRUM 1035 BANGALORE 1100 LAHORE 1100 JAIPUR 1100 DUBAI 1110 ISLAM ABBAD 1110 RAS AL KHAIMA 1120 PESHAWAR 1120 COLOMBO 1140 CALICUT 1155 DUBAI 1200 MALE 1205 KATHMANDU 1210 SALALAH 1215 MUKHAIZNA 1230 KUALA LUMPUR 1230 BANGKOK 1235 DUBAI 1330 KHASAB 1440 SALALAH 1445 BAHRAIN 1530 ABU DHABI 1535 DUBAI 1555 DOHA 1625 BOMBAY 1710 CALICUT 1720 MUKHAIZNA 1730 DUBAI 1730 DELHI 1730 LUCKNOW 1735 HYDERABAD 1740 DOHA 1745 DUBAI 1800 BAHRAIN 1810 KUWAIT 1900 DUQUM OMAN 1900 SHARJAH 1915 MADRAS 1920 BATEEN AIRPORT OF AUH 1930 BANGKOK/KARACHI 1935 DUBAI 1945 SALALAH 1950 TEHRAN 2000 DUBAI 2030 AMSTERDAM/DOHA 2120 CHITTAGONG 2125 DELHI 2125 DUBAI 2125 BOMBAY 2130 COCHIN 2140 MADRAS 2200 DOHA 2210 COLOMBO 2225 KATHMANDU 2235 BAHRAIN 2240 ABU DHABI 2250 LONDON-HEATHROW/ABU DHABI 2255 AHMEDABAD/BOMBAY 2310 DOHA 2315 ZURICH/DUBAI 2320 BOMBAY 2325 FRANKFURT/ABU DHABI 2330 BAHRAIN 2330 DUBAI 2335 DAMMAM 2350 SALALAH 2355 ZANZIBAR/DARESSLAM 2355

FLT NO

DEPARTURES TO

ETD

FLT NO

DEPARTURES TO

ETD

AI986 LX243 BA072

BOMBAY DUBAI/ZURICH ABU DHABI/LONDONHEATHROW BOMBAY AHMEDABAD ABU DHABI/FRANKFURT BANGKOK RIYADH TRIVANDRUM MADRAS BOMBAY COCHIN HYDERABAD DUBAI ISLAM ABBAD LAHORE ZURICH/MALPENSA DELHI BEIRUT BANGALORE BAHRAIN ABU DHABI COLOMBO MUNICH KARACHI FRANKFURT PARIS DOHA DACCA ISTANBUL KARACHI ADDIS ABABA DUBAI DUBAI DOHA ABU DHABI CAIRO MUKHAIZNA DUQUM OMAN BAHRAIN SALALAH DUBAI CALICUT LUCKNOW JAIPUR DUBAI HYDERABAD DELHI SHARJAH TURBAT/GWADUR DUBAI SALALAH BOMBAY CHITTAGONG MADRAS ZANZIBAR/DARESSLAM DUBAI ABU DHABI BAHRAIN TRIVANDRUM COCHIN MUKHAIZNA DOHA COCHIN KHASAB KATHMANDU ABU DHABI CALICUT LAHORE LONDON-HEATHROW DOHA AMMAN TEHRAN CHITTAGONG DUBAI SALALAH DUBAI CAIRO SIALKOT MUKHAIZNA MANGALORE SALALAH JEDDAH RIYADH/JEDDAH DUBAI DUBAI DUBAI WORLD CENTRE/ SINGAPORE DUBAI DOHA RIYADH SALALAH BAHRAIN KUWAIT DOHA DAMMAM BAHRAIN DUBAI SHARJAH BATEEN AIRPORT OF AUH DUBAI ABU DHABI DUBAI SALALAH SALALAH BANGKOK TRIVANDRUM BOMBAY MADRAS DELHI DOHA BAHRAIN COLOMBO JEDDAH ABU DHABI SALALAH

0005 0020

AI986 LX243 BA072

BOMBAY DUBAI/ZURICH ABU DHABI/LONDONHEATHROW BOMBAY ABU DHABI/FRANKFURT MEDINA RIYADH TRIVANDRUM MADRAS BOMBAY COCHIN HYDERABAD LAHORE ISLAM ABBAD DUBAI DELHI BANGALORE BAHRAIN ABU DHABI COLOMBO KARACHI DOHA MALE DOHA PESHAWAR JAIPUR BAHRAIN/ISTANBUL ADDIS ABABA DUBAI DUBAI DOHA ABU DHABI DACCA BAHRAIN SALALAH DUBAI MUKHAIZNA CALICUT LUCKNOW DUBAI HYDERABAD DELHI SHARJAH BANGKOK DUBAI LAHORE SALALAH BOMBAY MADRAS CHITTAGONG ZANZIBAR/DARESSLAM DUBAI ABU DHABI TRIVANDRUM BAHRAIN DOHA COCHIN KHASAB RAS AL KHAIMA DOHA PESHAWAR ABU DHABI CALICUT KATHMANDU LONDON-HEATHROW MUKHAIZNA KUWAIT TEHRAN FRANKFURT MALPENSA ZURICH MUNICH DUBAI DUBAI PARIS CAIRO DUQUM OMAN SALALAH JEDDAH DUBAI DUBAI AMMAN DUBAI RIYADH DOHA BAHRAIN KUWAIT DOHA DAMMAM BAHRAIN DUBAI SALALAH SHARJAH BATEEN AIRPORT OF AUH DUBAI DUBAI KARACHI/BANGKOK SALALAH ABU DHABI DOHA/AMSTERDAM BEIRUT TRIVANDRUM BOMBAY AMMAN MADRAS DELHI DOHA BAHRAIN COLOMBO JEDDAH ABU DHABI SALALAH

0005 0020

9W539 SG062 LH619 WY811 WY685 WY211 WY251 WY201 WY225 WY235 WY601 WY345 WY341 WY151 WY241 WY423 WY281 WY657 WY637 WY371 WY123 WY323 WY115 WY133 WY667 4H584 TK775 PK226 ET625 EK867 FZ042 QR1133 EY385 MS931 WY3301 WY3921 GF561 WY903 WY603 WY291 WY263 WY273 FZ044 WY231 WY245 G9115 PK192 WY605 WY905 WY203 WY311 WY253 WY717 EK863 EY383 WY655 IX554 IX442 WY3303 QR1129 9W533 WY917 WY331 WY631 IX350 PA451 WY101 WY663 WY413 WY433 BG024 FZ048 WY927 WY609 WY405 NL668 WY3305 IX818 WY913 WY675 SV533 FZ046 WY613 MP95 WY623 QR1127 WY681 WY907 GF565 WY647 WY661 WY695 WY653 EK865 G9117 RG126 WY611 WY635 FZ048 WY915 WY909 WY817 9W529 6.00E+82 AI908 AI974 QR1135 GF567 UL206 WY673 EY381 WY901

0025 0025 0030 0050 0105 0105 0110 0110 0120 0125 0135 0150 0150 0150 0155 0155 0200 0200 0205 0205 0210 0210 0210 0215 0215 0220 0245 0310 0310 0450 0455 0510 0520 0525 0530 0715 0720 0745 0800 0800 0920 0920 0930 0935 0955 0955 1005 1015 1030 1030 1030 1040 1040 1045 1055 1105 1110 1110 1115 1115 1115 1135 1140 1205 1225 1255 1315 1325 1330 1330 1340 1415 1415 1415 1420 1430 1430 1515 1530 1545 1630 1650 1700 1700 1815 1820 1845 1845 1850 1855 1900 1900 1910 1910 1915 2005 2015 2025 2030 2040 2050 2215 2235 2240 2245 2300 2310 2320 2325 2335 2350 2350 2350

9W539 LH619 WY671 WY685 WY211 WY251 WY201 WY225 WY235 WY341 WY345 WY601 WY241 WY281 WY657 WY637 WY371 WY323 WY667 WY383 4H585 NL772 WY271 TK777 ET625 EK867 FZ042 QR1133 EY385 4H586 GF561 WY903 WY603 WY3301 WY291 WY263 FZ044 WY231 WY245 G9115 WY815 WY605 NL769 WY905 WY203 WY253 WY311 WY717 EK863 EY383 IX554 WY655 QR1129 9W533 WY917 G9842 WY663 PK224 WY631 IX350 WY337 WY101 WY3303 WY645 WY433 WY113 WY141 WY153 WY121 FZ048 WY609 WY131 WY405 WY3921 WY913 WY675 WY613 FZ046 WY413 WY623 WY681 QR1127 GF565 WY647 WY661 WY695 WY653 EK865 WY909 G9117 RG126 WY611 FZ048 TG508 WY915 WY635 KL442 WY421 9W529 6.00E+82 WY411 AI908 AI974 QR1135 GF567 UL206 WY673 EY381 WY901

ETA

0025 0025 0050 0105 0105 0110 0110 0120 0125 0135 0150 0150 0150 0155 0200 0205 0205 0210 0210 0220 0235 0245 0330 0350 0350 0450 0455 0510 0520 0525 0700 0745 0800 0800 0800 0920 0920 0935 0955 0955 1005 1010 1030 1030 1030 1030 1040 1040 1045 1055 1105 1110 1110 1115 1135 1140 1210 1210 1220 1225 1255 1310 1325 1330 1340 1340 1345 1400 1405 1415 1415 1420 1420 1430 1515 1545 1630 1700 1700 1725 1820 1845 1845 1855 1900 1900 1910 1910 1915 1940 2005 2015 2025 2040 2040 2050 2050 2230 2230 2240 2245 2250 2300 2310 2320 2325 2335 2350 2350 2350

B8

SATU RDAY, NOVEMB ER 29, 20 14

EXTRA

Gok Wan’s vintage inspired collection is the real sparkle this season

W

ith a stylish nod to the luxury and opulence of eras gone by, Gok Wan’s new vintage inspired collection for Tu at Sainsburys will add some glamour to your festive wardrobe.

Sourcing inspiration from old classic films and iconic Hollywood starlets such as Veronica Lake, Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe, Gok describes the range as “grown up”.

For his Winter 14 range, the 40-year-old has reinterpreted

cludes a versatile mix of elegant eveningwear, beautiful basics and chic workwear. However, a gorgeous pink tweed coat is a stand out style staple.

With a luxurious faux fur collar and a bright pink belt that adds a playful pop of colour to the waistline, it is a must-buy.

“This is the first time I have worked with an outerwear fabric, but I really enjoyed it,” Gok reveals.

“I absolutely love this coat; it’s statement, affordable, beautiful, and also embodies the vintage themes in the collection.” The collection is underpinned by Gok’s

the most celebrated decades in fashion, taking a retrospective look back in time to periods when women dressed in an empowered and feminine way.

The new collection, which is in stores now, is an exploration of new styles, fabrics, silhouettes and prints. He told us: “This collection is definitely a lot more grown up and a little more considered.

“I’m using fabrics and prints that I probably wouldn’t have dared to use a year ago and it feels very new. I’m really proud of this collection.”

The 32-piece collection in-

clever tailoring tricks and figure flattering styles, so whether you are looking for a great outfit to impress at the office party, or simply something to wear to a festive lunch with the girls, Gok’s new range will ensure you look and feel fabulous this winter.

Finding the perfect party dress can be tricky but Gok has nailed it with a stunning metallic number.

Working a flattering fifties silhouette with it’s nipped in waist and full, kick out skirt, the gold frock will ensure you’re the belle of every Christmas ball.

— Sarah Barns/The Daily Express

STUDY

Female bosses are more likely to be depressed FEMALE BOSSES are more likely to feel depressed than those who don’t wield power at work, according to a new study. Men with authority, on the other hand, tend to feel happier than their lower ranking peers.

The reason behind these contrasting findings lies in pervasive gender stereotypes, says Tetyana Pudrovska, lead author of the study and assistant professor of sociology and demography at the University of Texas.

“Years of social science research suggest that women in authority positions deal with interpersonal tension, negative social interactions, negative stereotypes, prejudice, social isolation, as well as resistance from subordinates, colleagues, and superiors,” she says.

Characteristics associated with authority, such as dominance and competitiveness, are typically considered to be masculine traits. On the other hand, stereotypically feminine attributes,

such as empathy, are not widely accepted as being compatible with a leadership role.

“Women in authority positions are viewed as lacking the assertiveness and confidence of strong leaders. But when these women display such characteristics, they are judged negatively for being unfeminine,” Dr Pudrovska says.

This catch-22 is a common problem for women in charge, and is known as the “double bind”. According to the research-

ers, it contributes to chronic stress, and explains why women don’t feel the benefits of the status, autonomy and pay packet that come with job authority in the way that men do.

The study, published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior, examined data of over 2800 men and women who had been interviewed in 1993 and 2004. Fourteen per cent of these women held a position of authority, defined as the ability to hire and fire others and influence their pay, compared to 30 per cent of the men studied.

The authors emphasise that simply helping women to break the so-called glass ceiling isn’t enough to address the gender imbalance in the workplace, as their findings show that women face a very different reality once they reach the top. For that reason, they suggest that policies should also focus on making it more pleasant to stay up there.

— Elisa Criado/The Independent

C

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M S AT U R DAY, N O V E M B E R 2 9, 2 0 1 4

SECTION

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

RENT

C2

VACANCY

C4

CARGO

C7

C2

S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 9, 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

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

Office space (125 SQM) located in prime area at 18 November street, Al Azaiba. Contact 99261522 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

2 BHK Flat near Kuwaiti Mosque, Wadi Kabir. Tel: 24816774 / 97608564

Flat for rent Al Amerat Al Hajer, 2 bedrooms, 1 hall, 1 Majlis without A/C. Contact 99425184

Spacious 1 BR in Rex Road. Contact 99713489

Double & single bedroom flat near Wadi Kabir Lulu. Contact 99719471, 99639102

1 / 2 BHK Flat Ghobrah, close to ISG Way 4041, Building 4390.

Contact 99319880 1 & 2 BHK flat in Mumtaz Area (Ruwi) Contact - 99792181 2 & 3 BHK flat in Ghobrah.

Contact – 99792181 2BHK Flat at Old Muscat.

Contact: 91393005 A Building for rent: for workmen and companies at Al Wadi Al Kabir.

Contact 99388994 Furnished single bed attached bath for executive bachelors RO. 150/- pm near ISG- Ghobrah.

Contact - 95259322

Flats 2 bedrooms hall in Mumtaz Area. Contact 98003444 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 5 bedrooms villa with 2 halls, 4 bathrooms in Darsait behind Khimjis Mart. Contact 92584715, 24700120 Spacious 2 BR flat in MBD. Contact 99713489 For rent 2 bedrooms + hall + kitchen.

Location: South Mawaleh.

Contact 99870020

Contact: FIRST CHOICE LLC GSM: 99388170 / 93878787 3 BHK flat in al Khuwair 25.

Contact 99792181 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.

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 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.

Stores in Industrial Ghala opposite Al Ghobrah garage with 550 m, RO 4 for each meter, 93161111 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

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 New flat in a new building at a prime location at Al Khuwair, 2 bedrooms and Majlis.

Contact 99109094 Flats, Amerat Souk. Contact 98026234 / 99647903 7 Rooms villa at Al Azaiba, 18 November Road opposite Bank Muscat.

Contact 99224748, 99332297 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

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. Contact 93782735 / 99208033 1 & 2 BHK Al Khuwair.

Contact 99024730 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 1 BHK Ruwi. Contact 99024730

2 bedroom flat for rent at Mumtaz Area near Al Burj Hotel. Contact 99104418, 99345914, 99884924

Flat near Oman House. Contact 92815855, 95181077

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DAILY GUIDE

M.V. FOR SALE

Toyota Innova 2012.

Contact 92282533 Mercedes Benz SLK 350, 55,000 km. Single owner. RO.13,000/Contact – 99349311/ / 95928800 Honda Accord car – 2007 Model, 132000 KM well maintained. Very good condition. Contact: 92948999

FOR RENT

FOR SALE Running Business Marble, Granite & Tiles cutting & polishing, carpentry & Aluminium Workshop in Wadi Kabir for immediate sale. #99105492 Truck repairing workshop for sale, Misfah Industrial Area, very good location. Contact 92039537 Jewellery shop for sale in Seeb Souq. Contact 93313312 Running Aluminum Workshop for sale at Barka Industrial Area.

Contact 94282950 2 shops for sale behind Honda Road. Contact 99464758 New building 20 BHK flat, 7 shops, Mabela. Contact 95779595

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 1 BHK near Medical Darsait.

RO 190/-. Contact 98748925 New flat, Ghala near Royal Hospital, 3 BHK, hall, split A/C, RO 425/-.

Contact 92479515 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 1 BHK flat in Wadi Kabir. RO 180/-.

Contact 99376454 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 Flat, Ghubrah, 2 BHK, hall, split AC, RO 350, family only near Beiret Bank. Contact 92479515 Flats/villas owned by ROP pension fund available for rent in Muscat.

Contact 99349526

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

For sale 10,000 Gallon HDP 6 tank vertical type Amiantit make, brand new piece for an attractive price, stock clearance.

Contact 97079369, 95293651 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 New building in Al Ansab high quality, yearly income more than 90,000/- sale price only 750,000/-.

Contact 91155779, 24507072 23,886 Sq Mtrs Agriculture land with water well in Al Salwa, Barka. OMR 260 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

FOR SALE

2010 Toyota Yaris (automatic), excellent condition. # 99737879

More than 17,000 SQM commercial land in Ghala, 275/ per SQM. Contact 91155779, 24507072

ACC. WANTED

Commercial land in Honda Road for sale. Contact 91155779, 24507072

Urgently required 3 BK flat or villa at Wadi Al Kabir. # 99246503.

New & Refurbished portable cabins, Fabrication of car parks & all types of fabric shade.

Contact 94475705

ACC. AVAILABLE

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

Rooms with A/C for bachelors at Al Khuwair near Sultan Medical Centre. Contact 98187164 1 bedroom for bachelors sharing K&T in Al Khuwair, RO 100/-.

Contact 95154331

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

Single bedroom with attached bathroom for executive bachelor in Azaiba. Contact: 96921205 Sharing accommodation for a family in Wadi Kabir. Contact 97167857 Sharing accommodation for Executive Bachelor opposite Al Nahdha Hospital. Contact 98483739

Big showroom (two floors) for sale opposite Oman house & Muttrah Hotel. Total 600 square meter.

Contact 92827734 / 93206400 Turkish MDF Classic door with frame full quantity for sale by discount price. Contact 92858025, 95643086, 99208798 SHOP FOR SALE AT HONDA RD. CONTACT 99221683 / 92830110 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”

ACC. AVAILABLE 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 Furnished Single BHK available near ISM, Darsait for immediate takeover Contact 99477514 / 94288397

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 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

Forklift with clamp for sale: MakeCater Pillar-4 ton Model-2007.

Contact 99352790

Furnished unfurnished attached bath & kitchen at Mumtaz Area.

Contact 93103337, 96916398

Industrial Area land in Rusayl 5000 SQM and building with 8 shops.

Contact 95490842, 99323957

2 Rooms acc. with kitchen for rent in Mumtaz Area. 95953700.

Furnished room with bathroom for a non cooking executive bachelor at Al Khuwair. Contact 95875735

Sharing accommodation available for Executive bachelor near to Muttrah hotel. Contact 98132389

Furnished room available for rent in Darsait with separate bathroom and parking. Contact 97883616

1 BR accommodation available at Rex Road, suitable for bachelors.

Contact 99889590

Sharing accommodation available for a small veg. Family/bachelor at Wadi Kabir. 99877845

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

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 2013 November model Pajero, 38000 kilometers for sale. Price negotiable. Contact 96388496 Pajero 2013. Contact 9336093

BUYING/SELLING Used 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

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

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

LOST Arnel Delos Santos has lost Filipino Passport No. EB3519489.

Finder please report to ROP

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S AT U R DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 9, 2 0 1 4 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

DAILY GUIDE

SITUATION WANTED

SITUATION WANTSIT. VACANT MEDICAL

ADMIN/HR

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, 35 years with 10 years of Oman experience in HR & Administration , looking for suitable placement . Please contact 99697957.”

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 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 Wanted Ophthalmologists, Dentist and Nurses with MOH License for Nizwa. Please contact medicalvacancy2015@gmail.com

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT ADMIN/HR

MOH licensed female nurse required for clinic in Muscat for immediate placement. Contact 93538672

Urgently required male office assistance with Computer knowledge and English knowledge, fresh candidates can apply, visa available.

Contact 98457636 / email: eig.oman@hotmail.com

ARCHITECT Required a junior Architect for a Consultancy Office.

Email: staffcareoman@gmail.com

AUTOCAD Urgently required Auto CAD draughtsman for interior decoration company Sohar. Contact: 99437086 / 95540786 Email: md@alrasen.copm

SALES / MARKETING

ENGINEERS Consultancy Office requires a Structural Engineer 3 years experience in Oman. Submit CV to edsubmit@yahoo.com

FOREMAN Required for leading company – one foreman (Indian). Email : r.yass2020@gmail.com

CATERING

HOSPITALITY

Urgently required the following staffs for an Indian Restaurant: 1) Manager, 2) Waiters, 3) South Indian Cooks, 4) Tandoori Cooks, with a minimum of two years experience. Email: the resume to shhrdpoman@gmail.com or Contact 97422771

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

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 Light duty driver Kerala for a Construction company.

Contact 98294692 Required Indian house driver with Oman / UAE experience.

Contact – 24631442 Wanted driver for part. Contact 95112461 Telugu Driver WantedContact 95450157 Urgently driver wanted, Omani (private light). Contact 99173812, Star life Co.LLC

DOMESTIC HELP Urgently required a cook for a respectable Omani family. Contact 24566754/ 24566986 House Maid (full time) required for Keralite family near in Sohar. Contact: 97034674, 93558111

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

ENGINEERS 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

Wanted Doctor with MOH license for a Polyclinic. Excellent salary with accommodation and commission.

Contact 99752442, email : mmcmuscat@gmail.com

IT Urgently required part time skilled web surfer for posting data on Social networking websites like Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook, email: mhca@mhabibgroup.com Urgently required do net developer with 3 to 4 years experience in C# & VB.net, MVC, HTML, Jquery, SQL Server, programming Mobile apps both Android & IOS and knowledge of classic ASP & Search Engine Optimization, email : mhca@mhabibgroup.com

MISCELLANEOUS 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

MEDICAL Pharmacist and Assistant Pharmacist with MOH license are required.

Interested candidates contact 97091664 or mmcmuscat@gmail.com.

Good payment with incentives.

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 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 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 Sales & Marketing job with very good commission, for expats only in Muscat, Salalah & Sohar. # 92760281

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ED

B.E (Chemical), 23, Indian male with 1 year experience (production) in Chemical Plant, on visiting visa seeking for a suitable job. #94525650, Email: nglsgy@gmail.com Indian male 30 yrs seeking suitable placement to work as forklift operator, having 5 yrs of exp. NOC available. Contact – 94370085

Piping/Pipeline engineer, 3+ yrs exp with B.E degree (Mech), familiar with CAESAR-2, PDMS, AutoCAD, stress analysis and piping of critical lines for hydrocarbon industry.

Contact: 95785479, Email: mdshaji6105@gmail.com Indian male 28, completed B.H.MCT 4 yrs exp in food &beverages department. Looking suitable job for senior supervisor.Contact – 9108857 mirazhar.al51@gmail.com Civil Engineer 8 years Exp (2 in Angola with DAR AL HANDASAH, 4 months in Oman) as a site engineer. He holds a Diploma in project management, fluent in English & Arabic. Contact: 99170315

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 age 48 yrs Hr. & Admin Assistant 6 yrs experience in gulf seeking employment for suitable position. Release and NOC Available.

Contact: 95305425.

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 Female, 29, MBA (HR), exp 4 yrs in Oman & India, HR & Admin.

Looking for suitable placement.

Contact 95619537 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 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 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 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 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 ACCOUNTANT, M com, TALLY & ERP, 10 yrs Gulf Exp , NOC available PH 99035707 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 Quality Assurance officer, ISO Quality system internal Auditor, female 27, with 4 years experience, seeks suitable placement.

Email: nipuni.d.silva@gmail.com Indian Male, MBA 2 years experience in Accounts and Admin looking for suitable placement. #92045306.

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

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

DRIVER

Accountant BCom. 2yrs Oman experience. NOC available. Joing immediatley-93089367

Pakistani light driver looking for job, 2 years experience & release available. Contact 93966254

Accountant, indian male, 31yrs, M.com, 4 yrs experince in oman, NOC available, Cont-93376130 , 92398040

Light driver for job, 2 years experience. Contact 93181200

Accountant 3.5yrs.noc available. joingimmediatly.mba(hr).98772358 hellogoush@gmail.com 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 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: 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, B.Com 8 yrs experience Dubai. Contact +971 559429220, email: sharath553@yahoo.com, 99899102 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 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 Accountant Indian Male, B.Com, 3 years Gulf experience, 27 yrs, visa: family visit, looking for suitable job, can join immediately.

Contact 94619969 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 Pakistani MBA (Finance) male looking for suitable position. Experienced in accounts. Contact no: 96351655. sheikhsalman120@gmail.com

Driver HD, Pakistani. Contact 93873120 Experienced driver with car is looking for job. Contact 92481082 Bangladeshi Male having 6 months experience till date at light vehicle driving looking for job in any company any office. Contact 98596728, 96271222 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 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

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

Telecom Engineer with 8 yrs exp from India in IT Networking seeks suitable opportunities now in Oman.

Contact 99002635 Emal : sibinkumar.acharya@gmail.com

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

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

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.

Contact 99860453, Email: khalid.ikram08@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 Mechanical Engineer (BE) on a visiting visa seeking suitable placement. Contact 98195108, email: benzajan@gmail.com Indian Male, 28, B.Tech Electrical, 5 yrs Gulf experience in HV & LV Installation, Omani D/L, Medc license seeking placement.

Contact 94368581, Email: wajidkhan619@gmail.com

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED ENGG. / TECHNICAL Indian, B.Tech Mechanical Engineer on visit visa seeking suitable placement. Contact 97944053, email: alithandlawala@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 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 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 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 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 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 25 B.Tech (IT) Engineer 2.5 yrs exp in hardware networking, currently on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact - 94359564 Project Electrical Engineer, 3 years experience primary substation OHL cables, driving license available (NOC) available. Contact 94372096

ENGG. / TECHNICAL

INFORMATION TECH

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

Female Computer Science and Engineering Graduate With ASP .NET Certification - Muscat 91706562

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 Civil Engineer, 6+ years work experience in Oman, valid Omani D/L looking for suitable placement.

Contact 96936404 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

EDUCATION M.A B.ED well experienced indian lady teacher of economics,social science & English looking for suitable job.Contact : 94365112 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, 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 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

INFORMATION TECH 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

Indian Male with 4 years experience in Optical Fiber Cable splicing and related equipments, presently in Oman on visit visa seeking suitable placement. #94525460 / 93257581.

Email: jidhinpius7@gmail.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 .

Female, 23, Indian, B.Tech Information Technology looking for HR/ Admin/Customer Relations etc. in Oman. Contact 99592519, email: anisarvath@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. #98682726, Email: vhmfaisal@gmail.com

MEDICAL Lab Technician, Civil (8yrs Gulf experience) looking for a suitable job (NOC available) Contact-93344378 Pharmacist with MOH license and experience in Oman. #96535239 Female dentist having MOH license is looking for a suitable job within Muscat. Contact 95859325 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. #98140024 Email: drgpoman@yahoo.com Ayurvedic Doctor male total 5 yrs exp, 2 yrs in Oman looking for suitable position. #97944535

MISCELLANEOUS Indian male B.Tech in EC with CCNA MCSE certification, having 5yrs experience seeking suitable placements.mob:94575080/ afzalpa007@gmail.com Indian female 23, MBA in Project Management, born & brought up in Oman with valid Oman driving license, looking for employmentContact 95785338 / Email: anshaa55@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

MECHANICAL /TECHTools and Die Maker, having 2 yrs experience in Tech Plastic Industries Pvt. Ltd, Chennai, India, looking for tool maker job.

Contact 00919846887181 (India), 99351386 (Oman), email: ranish20@gmail.com Welder 6G, 3G, TIG, ARC, Fabrication, Gulf Exp. Contact : 97103168

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

SECRETARIAL/OFFICE 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 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, 18 years experience in Catering supervisor as Sales Executive in Saudi holding valid D/L. Email: emialdheen@gmail.com.

Contact 96304501

SALES / MARKETING

MISCELLANEOUS

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,

Required Accountant job 4years experience visa exp 3.dec.14 Holding D/L. Contact - 98283400

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

Indian Male 38 years, Electronic Engineer with 14 yrs of Oman experience and proven track record as Sales & Marketing Manager (Electronics, Electrical & Electro-Mechanical Products) with valid Oman D/L looking for a suitable placement in a reputed Organization. Please contact 92208744, Email: ebpadmakumar@yahoo.com 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 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 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)

TOURS & TRAVEL

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 Female: Bachelor in Travel & tourism.1 year experience in ticketing and 6 month in cargo (CIAL).

Looking suitable placement.

Contact 95883404

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

MISCELLANEOUS 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 Contact : 99892082 / 997 43 709 B. Pharm, Indian Female, Oman MOH License holder, seeking job.

Email:shivallath@gmail.com Contact no: 99665183 OPERATION MANAGER, Indian male, 30 yrs exp. In Front Office Hotel Industry with Omani driving license seeks placement.NOC / Release Available.

Contact - 99799774 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

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

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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

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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

Plot for sale: 8 cents, Block 7, Kakkanad, 2 kms from Info park, Cochin. Contact - 968 92124098

Isuzu 10 ton cargo body truck (2012 FVR) with UAE experienced driver available for long term / short term rent.

3 bedrooms flat for rent in Mather building, Chembumukku junction, Padivattom, Cochin.

Contact - 96892124098

Contact: 95346950

Villa for sale 2200 sq ft in 8 cent.

Kottayam. Contact: 92652534

Running truck wash for rent in Ouhi Sunia Sohar. Serious people can. Contact on 97864747

For Astrological consultation, Jathakam. Contact: 99860435 / 97102599

50 seater bus with PDO specification for rent or lease.

Contact 99839898

MATRIMONIAL

TRANSPORTATION

Kerala Nair boy, 34 yrs, Chartered Accountant seeks suitable alliance.

Contact 91790746, email: rejith.radha@gmail.com

Pick & drop anytime in al Khuwair.

Contact 99764307 1500 Gallon Diesel Tanker, excavators available for Hire or monthly basis. Contact 95943787

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

Transportation.

Contact 99515452

We assist in new business set up local sponsorship, real estate services, assist in company formation services. Contact - 93166088

Transportation availableContact - 95570429 Transportation. Contact 98518979 Transportation. Contact 97838217

SERVICES Window & split unit A/C servicing & maintenance. Contact 96236476 P.R.O services. Contact 99368907

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

RENT A CAR

FOR HIRE

3 Bedrooms flat for sale sea port, airport road, Cochin, discounted price. Contact 99466800

Pest Control and cleaning best services – 1. Cockroach, ants, etc, 2. Tiles cleaning, marbles cleaning, floor cleaning, and carpet cleaning.

Contact 92108447, 99666505

Transportation. Contact 96538078 Transportation Available Contact: 97180655

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

MATRIMONIAL Indian Doctor, Businessman looking for working lady in Oman for marriage, any nationality, Muslim preference self.

Contact 96290792

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DAILY GUIDE

Indian, Arabic, Chinese dishes, BuďŹ&#x20AC;et Lunch (On Friday) Indoor & Outdoor, Catering, Party hall available Take Away & Home Delivery

Party booking & sugges ons 99320065, 99341643

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