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Deep depression gains strength, comes closer

REJIMON [email protected]

MUSCAT: Nilofar, the deep de-pression over the west-central and adjoining southwest Arabian Sea, which has intensifi ed into a tropi-cal storm, is 750km from the Oman coast, according to meteorological department offi cials of Oman.

“The speed of the wind is 35 to 45knots. The Al Wusta and Shar-qiyah regions will be hit by rain,” in the coming days, the meteorologi-cal department said.

“According to the most Numeri-cal predictions models, it is unlike-ly to make landfall in Oman,” the department said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Indian Meteoro-logical Department offi cials noted that the storm will become a “very severe cyclonic storm” in 24 hours.

According to their forecast, it is likely to strike south Masirah Island. “On Wednesday morning at around 4am (Oman time) the very severe cyclonic storm will hit Latitude 18.9 N degree and Longi-

tude 59.9 E degree. The maximum sustained surface wind speed (kmph) will be 120-130, gusting to 145. It will move to Latitude 20.1 N degree and Longitude 61.1 E de-gree,” the IMD bulletin noted. The coordinates of Masirah Island are Latitude 20.47 N degree and Lon-gitude 58.81 E degree.

The Indian Meteorological De-partment is responsible for tropi-cal cyclone advisories in the north-ern Indian Ocean, including the Arabian Sea. “Nilofar will initially move north-northwestwards dur-

ing the next 48 hours and then curve northeastwards towards north Gujarat and the adjoining Pakistan coast during the sub-sequent 72 hours. It will inten-sify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours,” it said in its 12pm statement.

The US Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC) said in its latest statement that the tropi-cal cyclone is approximately 440 nautical miles south-southeast off Masirah Island, and had tracked northeastward at 13 knots over

the past six hours. “Maximum sustained surface winds were es-timated at 35 knots, gusting to 45 knots,” the statement said.

“Duqm and Masirah will be hit by Nilofar,” the statement added.

Government hospitals in Sur have begun preparations by stock-ing medicines, food, water and fuel. “We have received a caution notice. Preparations are done,” a source said.

However, residents in Masirah said they are aware the cyclone is approaching and are remain-

ing cautious. “So far, we have not received any offi cial warning. But authorities have told us to remain cautious. We are pray-ing to the Almighty,” said Mo-hammed, a long-time resident of Masirah Island.

Salalah Port authorities have also begun preparations. “We have taken all kinds of precautions to avert damage from the cyclone,” an offi cial said. Also, government authorities have advised the public to follow the weather updates and remain cautious.

Government

authorities have

advised the public

to follow weather

updates and

remain cautious

RAHUL [email protected]

MUSCAT: Can a Lotus or a Water Lily bring destruc-tion? Sounds impossible, but ever since it was formed, it is gaining strength at the Arabian Sea.

Nilofar, a Persian word meaning Lotus or Water Lily, is also the name of the tropi-cal storm which is racing towards Oman at a speed of 100km per hour.

The name of a new tropical cyclone is determined by se-quential cycling through lists of names submitted by coun-tries which are members of fi ve tropical cyclone regional

bodies. Cyclone ‘Nilofar’ was named by Pakistan as it was that country’s turn in an alphabetical order – which may also bear the brunt of the cyclone.

Oman is included on the list of Northern In-dian Ocean Names and other member countries are Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand that provide names for cyclones in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.

“For the future, Oman has named cyclones as Nada, Luban and Maha,” an offi cial of the Meteorological De-partment said. >A6

By the way, who is Nilofar?

Duqm

MuscatAbu Dhabi

Salalah

Ras al Hadd

MasirahIsland

Sur

S E A O F O M A N

OMAAN

KarachiIRAN

PAKISTAN

A R A B I A NS E A

A R A B I A NG U L F

60 - 90Cyclonic storm

Gwadar

Wind speed (km/h)

R

FF

June 7, 2007

June 2, 2007GONU

May 31, 2010PHET

June 6, 2010

OCTOBER 3111:30AM

Path prediction for the tropical storm

OCTOBER 2911:30AM

OCTOBER 262:30PM

90 - 120Severe cyclonic storm

120 - 130Very severe cyclonic storm

Source: Indian Meteorological Department Graphics

A7Tunisians vote for democracy

DIGEST VIDEO

S CA N T H I S Q R CO D E TO I N STA N T LY L AU N C H T H E V I D EO

Top stories in one minute with our new daily Digest

The graphic published on the front page of yesterday’s (October 26, 2014) edition of Times of Oman inadvertently mentioned the Sea of Oman as Gulf of Oman. The error is regretted.

Clarifi cation

HM sendsgreetings

MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of greetings to President Gur-banguly Berdimuhamedow of Turkmenistan on his country’s National Day. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan expressed his sincere greetings and wishes of good health and happiness to the president and his country’s people further progress and prosperity. — ONA

T U R K M E N I S T A N

OMANTanzania seeks trade

1Tanzanian National Assembly speaker invited Omani fi rms to tap into her

country’s rich resources. >A2

OMANStaff emoluments

2Once agreed to, a contract cannot be challenged but it may be renegotiated at

the time of renewal. >A3

MARKETSubsidy cuts coming

3The government is likely to start cutting some state subsidies next year as

global oil prices decline. >B1

T O P T H R E E I N S I D E S T O R I E S

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO LAUNCH ANIMATIONON STORM

A2 M O N DAY, O C TO B E R 2 7, 2 0 1 4

OMANCultural festivities will commemorate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Korea and Oman

Korean fl eet, food, music to cement bond >A3

Tanzania seeks investment in agriculture and minerals

SALEH AL SHAIBANY [email protected]

MUSCAT: Tanzania hopes its deep historical ties with the Sul-tanate will encourage Omani com-panies to invest in agriculture and mineral resources in the East Afri-can country.

During her visit to Oman last week, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania, Anne Ma-kinda, told the Times of Oman that her country was keen to pro-mote opportunities for business

between the two countries and asked local companies to con-sider tapping into her country’s rich resources.

“Tanzania has abundant agri-cultural products, including a wide variety of crops. It is a very fertile country. We are also keen to pro-mote investments in the livestock and I am sure Omani business peo-ple will fi nd these two areas very profi table,” said Anne Makinda.

About 77 per cent of Tanzania’s population of 49 million people depend on agriculture and live-stock for their livelihood.

Agriculture contributes 41 per cent of the country’s GDP, while livestock accounts for about 29 per cent, according to statistics issued by UN’s Food and Agricul-ture Organisation (FAO). Crops grown in Tanzania include cof-fee, tea, cloves, maize, wheat, rice, cashew nuts, vegetables and fruits. Animal husbandry of cattle, sheep and goats is also a chief earner for nearly 30 million Tanzanians.

“The Tanzanian food industry that Omani business companies can tap into is not only confi ned to what is grown on the fi eld or live-stock but the fi shing industry as well. This is another area we are keen to develop with Oman and build a good investment environ-

ment that will benefi t both the countries,” Makinda stressed.

Marine wealthThe Tanzania coastline stretches for 1,450km with the fi sheries po-tential of 730,000 metric tonnes per year. Its sea is rich with much-in-demand lobsters, prawns and a variety of tropical fi shes. Shrimp farming is in the experimental stage in Tanzania and the govern-ment has already invited private companies to acquire plots to farm this type of seafood.

The country also has a vast un-tapped potential in fresh water fi sh farming.

It has one of the largest lakes in the world, spread over 53,000 square kilometres. It is currently promoting trout farming and is looking for more investors to take advantage in this much sought af-ter sector.

“Another area we would like Oman to make investments in is our mineral resources. Tanzania has one of the most prospective minerals in Africa and our poli-cies are fl exible and very business friendly for investors. On top of that, we have sound fi scal and legal system to protect all investors in this important industry,” Makinda pointed out.

Tanzania has become one of the fastest-emerging gold producers in Africa, and is now the continent’s third largest gold producing coun-try after South Africa and Ghana. It also has limited diamonds but abundant reserves of nickel, cop-per, uranium and platinum.

But what Tanzania and Oman have in common are their gas ex-ploration programmes.

“We can tap each other’s strength in gas since both the countries are conducting explora-tions aggressively. We can share experiences and investments in this crucial energy business,” Ma-kinda said.

Last year Tanzania had said that its gas reserves will double up in 2015 to 40 trillion cubic feet, thanks to recent new discoveries. The country now prepares to off er new exploration blocks by the end of this year to international energy companies.

“Our long historical ties should go beyond what we commonly share and the business invest-ments is one way to strengthen these. We look forward to Omani companies taking part in our eco-nomic development and promise a transparent business environ-ment for the benefi t of our two countries,” Makinda concluded.

During her visit to

Oman last week,

the Speaker of the

National Assembly

of Tanzania, Anne

Makinda, said that

her country was

keen to promote

opportunities for

business between

the two countries

Speaker of the National Assem-

bly of Tanzania, Anne Makinda

‘Smokeless tobacco’ has heavy metals: SQU

STAFF REPORTER

MUSCAT: ‘Afzal’, an illegally sold smokeless tobacco product (STP) commonly used by Om-ani youths, including teenag-ers, contains heavy metals that may cause health problems, a study conducted by researchers from the Department of Biol-ogy at Sultan Qaboos University has revealed.

The fi ndings of this study underscore the need for urgent regulations at the national level to control the illegal sale of this tobacco product, along with the need to launch public health education and awareness cam-paigns on the health risks asso-ciated with the use of ‘Afzal’.

The study was conducted by Nawal Al Mukhaini, a PhD stu-dent being supervised by Prof. Taher Ba-Omar, and Drs Elsa-dig Eltayeb and Aisha Al Shehi from the department of Biology at the College of Science.

The authors reported that smokeless tobacco products have gained popularity in Oman, especially among young people, because of its inexpensive price and easy availability, as well as the lack of awareness about its harmful eff ects. “‘Afzal’ is con-sidered to be a snuff tobacco or a type of moist STP, and is ille-gally sold in Oman despite been prohibited by law.

‘Afzal’ is used by applying a pinch of the product between the lips and the upper or lower gums. Users suck the juice of the product for varying periods of time, often up to 30 minutes, and subsequently spit out the remaining tobacco.

The fi ndings of this study confi rmed the presence of several heavy metals, such as chromium, cadmium, nickel and lead in a randomly selected blend of ‘Afzal’.

Some of these heavy met-als can cause cancers. Further, the results showed levels of chromium and cadmium in ‘Afzal’ above international lim-its, while the concentrations of nickel and lead were lower than the maximum permissible lim-its.

H E A L T H I S S U E S

DEADLY ‘AFZAL’: The

chewing tobacco contains

chromium, cadmium,

nickel and lead.

Sayyid Fahd to receive Tanzania PM

MUSCAT: Mizengo Kayanza Peter Pinda, Prime Minister of Tanzania and his wife will ar-rive in Muscat today, on a sever-al-day visit to the Sultanate.

On their arrival, the Prime Minister and his accompany-ing delegation will be received by His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers.

The Tanzanian Prime Min-ister will be accompanied by a delegation comprising Chris-topher Chiza, Minister of Ag-riculture and Food Security; Dr Titus Kamani, Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Devel-opment; Ali Juma Shamuhuna, Minister of Education and Vo-cational Training and a number of offi cials.

The visit comes as part of the eff orts to further enhanceme the bilateral relations and ex-isting cooperation between the two countries.–ONA

D I P L O M A C Y

A3

OMANM O N DAY, O CTO B E R 2 7, 2 0 14

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I am working at a school in Oman. The authorities of the school are not giving me HRA and other allow-ances. They have told me that I am not eligible for HRA since my husband is getting HRA, though he is working in another company. Is there any rule in Oman about women not getting HRA? All the oth-ers teachers are getting this allowance.Benefi ts and emoluments will be calculated on the basis of your contract with the employer. Some of the community schools in Oman do not provide accommoda-tion and air passage ben-efi ts to their lady teachers and this forms part of their general recruitment policy. Once you have agreed to it, you cannot challenge it at a later date. However, you may negotiate with your employer before the commencement of another contract period.

My question is regarding customer rights. I pur-chased diamond jewellery during a promotion cam-paign, where the jeweller was off ering 50% discount. After purchasing it I took

it to another shop for eval-uation and was surprised to know that its market value was more than 70% less. I had purchased it about for about OMR850 and it was evaluated at about OMR200. Isn’t this cheating that they off er a 50% discount but the

original price is not more than 20%? Does the law protect customers in such situations?If you have any doubt about the quality and value of the item purchased by you, you can approach the Public Au-thority for Consumer Rights (PACA). The diamonds normally come with test certifi cates for purity and quality and you may request the same from your seller.

Benefits and emoluments are calculated on basis of contract

L E G A L C O L U M N

Times of Oman, in association with

Khalifa Al Hinai Legal Consultants, will

answer the legal queries

of readers every Monday.

Questions can be sent to

[email protected]

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this column are for general guidance purposes only. They are based on facts presented to us and are not substituted for expert legal advice. Readers are ad-vised to seek legal assistance for specifi c legal issues. Times of Oman and Khalifa Al Hinai Advocates & Legal Consul-tancy do not assume any responsibility towards anyone on this matter.

Korean fl eet, food, music to cement bond

MUSCAT: Korean naval vessel, Dae Jo Yeong will visit Port Sul-tan Qaboos (PSQ) to commemo-rate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Korea and Oman.

Daesik Kim, ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Oman, will hold a Korean National Day reception onboard the vessel.

The reception will feature Korean culture, including the traditional Korean music per-formance and traditional Ko-rean dishes.

The Korean fl eet is partici-pating in the joint patrol around Gulf of Aden to ensure the se-curity and safety of navigation near Somalian waters. The naval vessel routinely visits Salalah port for logistics sup-ply. However, this time when it comes to Muscat it will make the Korean presence in Oman more colourful and noticeable.

Korean Week 2014 in Muscat is scheduled to be held from No-vember 23.

To celebrate the 40th anni-versary of diplomatic relation-ship between Korea and Oman, the Korean embassy has em-barked on a series of cultural events throughout the year. As a part of the activities, Korea Week 2014 will be held in Mus-cat at the end of November, pro-viding various opportunities to experience Korean culture from musical performances to Kore-an current movies. For detailed information, visit http://omn.mofa.go.kr/english.

K O R E A N W E E K 2 0 1 4

State Council briefed on traffi c lawMUSCAT: The proposed changes in the Traffi c Law were recently discussed at a high level meeting.

Brigadier Mohammed bin Awad Al Rawas, director-general of traffi c at the Royal Oman Police (ROP), addressed members of the legal committee of State Council about amendments in Traffi c Law. This was in connection with the ongoing discussions pertaining to

the proposal to amend certain pro-visions of Traffi c Law No. 28/93, referred to the Council by the Shu-ra Council.

The meeting, chaired by Mo-hammed bin Ali Al Kiyoumi, head of the legal committee, was held in presence of members of the com-mittee and secretariat staff .

Al Rawas gave a detailed expla-nation on the role of the ROP in

reducing road accidents, which is the prime objective of bring-ing amendments to the traffi c law, through a review of the traffi c statistics.

The discussions focused on re-lated topics and draft amendments to this law. The committee was briefed on an update of the topics on its agenda and took the appro-priate decisions. – ONA

L E G A L C O M M I T T T E E

FESTIVE SPIRIT: The festivi-

ties will commemorate the

40th anniversary of the

establishment of diplomatic

ties between Korea and Oman.

A4 M O N DAY, O C TO B E R 2 7, 2 0 1 4

OMAN

Oman, Austria join hands for art

SARAH [email protected]

MUSCAT: Stal Gallery’s upcom-ing exhibition, ‘Austria-Oman Un-der The Same Sky,’ brings together artists from both countries in a show aimed at renewing cultural ties between the two nations.

The exhibition, which opens tomorrow, coincides with the Austrian National Day celebra-tions which will be hosted by the Austrian Economic and Commer-cial Offi cer in Oman. The artists include Sini Coreth, Erik Hörtnagl and Kurt Spitaler from Austria, and Oman’s Hassan Meer, Budour Al Riyami, and Abdulmonam Al Hasani, who is not only the Min-ister of Information, but also a tal-ented photographer.

“It’s to open the doors for ex-changes between Oman and Aus-tria,” explained Hassan Meer, ar-tistic director of Stal Gallery.

Meer’s own contribution will be a number of installations that explore his refl ections on reli-gion and faith. Al Riyami’s work

includes photography and in-stallations, while Al Hassani’s is photography.

The three artists from Aus-tria bring very diff erent perspec-tives, including installations, videos, and photography with an audio element.

Sini Coreth, leading the Aus-trian delegation, lived in Oman for four years when her husband was the ambassador here, so she was thrilled to return here, where she could enjoy the sand, sea and wind again, and bring a part of Austria here with her. She says that while there are trade ties between the countries, there should also be cultural relations. “The exchange (between countries) needs art-ists. It’s important that I go back and have this feeling that this in-tercultural exchange can continue between the countries,” she said.

Coreth’s work includes a vid-eo of the mountains and forests

around her home, shot over three seasons, which will introduce peo-ple here to a new environment, one that can be intimidating at fi rst, but also very beautiful. She also has a sculpture of two feet made from wire that are tied together, suggesting unity.

Kurt Spitaler has spent over 10 years making sculptures from ordinary objects that he stitches together, such as hats, sheets of wood, brushes and plastic cups, giving them new shapes and di-mensions.

His work at the Stal Gallery is made of 10 giant water bottles, each with a volume of 20 litres, cut and stitched together with bright red string. He says water unites all people, be they in Austria, where water is plentiful, or in Oman, where fresh water is scarcer.

“The surface is the fi rst impres-sion but beyond that there is so much more, depending on how you

imagine it. A water can is normally to transport water but you can build a completely diff erent thing,” he said of his work.

Erik Hortnagl works with an organisation called Ipsum, which used photography as a way to break down cultural barriers and stereotypes, especially in coun-tries hit by confl icts. Rather than taking photographs that are typi-cally seen in mainstream media, Ipsum asks the subjects to tell their own stories through photog-raphy, expressing their true selves.

When the photographs were ex-hibited in Austria, viewers were asked to describe them and talk about them, and there descriptions and discussion were recorded. A number of the photographs, each displayed with headphones so peo-ple can hear the audio tracks, will be on display at Stal Gallery.

Hortnagl had a workshop with some Omanis and asked them to

talk about the photographs, too. “What I’m trying to do is create a discussion. It’s interesting to see how the people in Austria and Oman both react to the photos in the same way,” he said.

Spitaler added that he was very happy to come to Oman and meet other artists, people whom he sees as diff erent from the average peo-

ple in any society. “I think know-ing other artists and other minds is the basis for doing my own art. We should connect and we have to open our eyes to what’s going on in other regions of the world,” he said.

‘Austria-Oman Under The Same Sky’ opens tomorrow at 5pm at Stal Gallery on Al Inshirah Street in Madinat Sultan Qaboos.

The exhibition, which

opens tomorrow,

coincides with the

Austrian National

Day celebrations

to be hosted by the

Austrian Economic

and Commercial

Offi cer in Oman

Antique furniture emporium adds exotic art to timbersSTAFF REPORTER

MUSCAT: Richwood Antiques, a European company with over 25 years of experience in sourc-ing and restoring 19th century antique furniture has come out with exquisite and rare items at its showroom in Muscat.

Richwood Antiques has on dis-play elaborate mirrors gilded in 24 carat gold leaf, hand polished mahogany dining room tables and chairs to seat four to 14 peo-ple, leather top desks, bookcases, sideboards and cabinets, all made in exotic timbers.

Since its launch in Oman al-most four years ago, Richwood Antiques has become the go-to furniture emporium in the coun-try for magnifi cent original Euro-pean antique furniture and deco-rative pieces.

Speaking to the Times of Oman, Rosemary Whelan, owner of Richwood Antiques, who has ex-perience of over two decades in the trade, said there has been an overwhelming response to the new collection. “I am delighted with this current collection. I think it’s magnifi cent and my customers love it, too. I have a wonderful selection of original gilt-framed mirrors from Paris and beautiful polished mahogany furniture from London and Dub-lin, stamped by the original mak-ers,” said Rosemary, who is also an affi liated member of CINOA, an international association for art and antique experts from around the world.

She is also a valued member

of the Irish Antique Dealers As-sociation and served as a council member for several years. Rose-mary is possibly the only member of both these associations trading in Oman and possibly the entire region at this time. “When I came here, I was surprised that nobody is selling these things in Oman, so I thought to show these valuable items to people here. I organised a few exhibitions here and it gave me a lot of exposure because so many people saw what we were doing. Since then, we have been doing really well,” she said.

Mahogany woodAccording to Rosemary, Omani’s have a “special interest” in pol-ished mahogany wood, that is becoming scant. “The demand is more for the polished mahogany among the Omani’s but it is be-coming a very rare wood and you cannot make furniture in ma-hogany anymore. The original pieces that are made in mahogany are unique and hence we sell a lot of these here,” she said. Apart from that, Rosemary also sells beautiful furniture constructed in exotic timbers of mahogany, rosewood, satinwood and walnut, fi nely carved and decorated with intricate inlays and fi ne brass-work, all skill-fully executed by craftsmen of the period.

“The pieces that I have are

sourced and brought to Oman. I chose them very carefully and for various reasons. Any item is either unique, rare, has history, or has simply been chosen for its outstanding quality and beauty,” she noted.

One of the rarest items in stock is a pair of magnifi cent English cast and polished brass stand-ard lamps, made around 1850. “Standard lamps of such high quality are usually only found as single lamps today. Over genera-tions, items pass through a fam-ily and are split between family members. To source an original pair is extremely diffi cult. This particular pair is heavy quality and telescopic so you can adjust the height to suit your lighting mood. They are solid brass which you soon discover when you try to carry them,” she explained.

Speaking about her interest in antique trade, Rosemary, who single-handedly manages the business, recalled the good-old days. “I am from Dublin in Ireland and I entered this business at a very young age of 18. I wanted to become a nurse and during my college days, I was off ered a sum-mer-job in an antique shop to pass the time. I was fortunate enough to have my fi rst sale in the fi rst week itself and was hooked ever since then,” she said. Her fi rst sale was a beautiful Victorian rose-wood armchair. “That changed the course of my life. The antique business has only done well for me and I am enjoying every bit of it. I do not regret not becoming a nurse,” she added.

R I C H W O O D A N T I Q U E S

The surface is the first

impression but beyond

that there is so much

more... A water can is

normally to transport

water but you can

build a completely

different thing

Kurt SpitalerArtist

What I’m trying

to do is create a

discussion. It’s

interesting to see how

the people in Austria

and Oman both

react to the photos

in the same way

Erik HortnaglPhotographer

ART IMPACT: A photograph from Erik Hortnagl’s organisation.

–Photos and videos Mohammed Ali

WOOD ART: Rosemary Whelan sells furniture constructed in exotic timbers of mahogany, rosewood,

satinwood and walnut, fi nely carved and decorated with intricate inlays. –Jun Estrada/TIMES OF OMAN

SCAN THIS TO VISIT

PHOTO GALLERYARTICLE, VIDEO,

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

Oman-Dutch ties on upswingTimes News Service

THE HAGUE: The annual Om-ani-Dutch Bilateral Consultation Session was held yesterday at the headquarters of the Dutch Foreign Ministry in The Hague. The meet-ing is held each year, alternating between the two countries.

Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al Busaidi, secretary general of the Foreign Ministry, chaired the Omani delegation, while Renee Jones Bos, director-general of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Aff airs, represented the Dutch government.

The two delegations reviewed

the development of Omani-Dutch relations, which included various types of cooperation and exchang-es between the two countries.

The two sides also agreed to move forward and increase coop-eration and partnerships for bet-tering the welfare and develop-ment of its peoples.

C O N S U L T A T I O N S E S S I O N

It’s important that I go back and have this feeling that this intercultural exchange can continue between the countries

Sini Coreth, Austrian artist

Don’t litter a beautiful

country like OMAN.

Ensure proper disposalof garbage.

World class up-gradations Al Khonji asserted that all improve-ments introduced are of high standard quality and meant to be a value added for investments. “Some of the new features are of a radical form; AC split units have been turned to central units, inter-nal design, like gyps, Cornish, spot lights has been added to support the central AC and walls — internal and external — has been built from special materials to reduce temper-ature to least degree. Furthermore, new appliances & technologies features were added to the kitchen and bathrooms, as an integral part of up-gradations.

No extra cost “Falling within its vision and strategy as a leading real estate developer in the Sultanate of Oman, Aqar under-takes all extra costs for all up-grada-tions and new features introduced to Rimal. No investor or buyer will be burdened with any cost resulting from introducing these extra fea-tures and technologies.

“Aqar brought all these for build-ing better relations with its custom-

ers. We send a newsletter to each customer every three months to keep everyone aware of the up-dates and developments in place. These new up gradations, will, for sure, contribute to increasing the market value of the property when the owner off ers it for rent or sale, in the future,” said Al Khonji.

Integrated residential complex Inaugurated in the end of 2011, Ri-mal is stretching over 50,000 sqm; with residential units of varied spaces. Al Khonji points that the 254 units within the project have been reduced to 242; some units have been combined together upon the request of the customers. Rimal is a medium size, integrated-service modern project matching modern life style, with high-end design and decoration and strate-gic site at Bausher; the heart of the new capital city.

Work on schedule “All works are in progress according to an accurate time table and pre-drafted plans; the project hosts a

variety of benefi ts and advantages; to name but a few, a 400- vehicle three level underground parking where the fi rst level is for the Com-mercial Center and the second and third fl oor are for residents, an exclusive 27m-length swim-ming pool, world class shopping center, and other facilities include a children’s playing area, spaces for barbeques, a gym for men and women, as well as prayer rooms for men and women. When the pro-ject was fl oated, 70% of the apart-ments were sold within two weeks, in a wave of success for Aqar,” Al Khonji explained.

“Aqar signed a contract with Om-antel, based on which the later will

provide all telecommunication and internet services to the residents,” he added.

Rimal Galleria Announcing that another comple-mentary project will be disclosed in the near future, Al Khonji said that Rimal Gallleria Shopping Center is a retail space that will bring some of the world’s leading names and local favourites, all within walking dis-tance of the residence. Organised along a glass-faced promenade, which will feature a range of cafes, eateries and boutiques, Rimal Gal-leria is set to become one of Mus-cat’s most popular family-focused on Resturants & Cafes centre. A terraced restaurant area will off er a range of cuisines and al fresco din-ing options to suit all tastes.

Real estate boom Al Khonji pointed that the Sultan-ate has experienced a boom and continued developments in regard with real estate and property mar-ket. “When we inaugurated Rimal, the majority of Bousher area was sand, and only sand; today, many

big buildings and construction pro-jects are in progress or already have been completed. It is a new life vi-brant there”.

Market correction According to Al Khonji, the real estate sector in Oman has no crisis; it is a shape of market cor-rection in order to have a supply-demand balance. An example of Amrat lands was OMR3000 by the beginning of 2011 and reached to OMR15,000 before this correction which is a 500% increase & now they reached as low as OMR10,000 which is In my opinion is still high. It is noteworthy that oil prices drop confused the economists and in-vestors all over the world.

Long journey of excellencyAl Khonji Real Estate & Develop-ment LLC (Aqar) was created in 2010 as the new name and from 1998 - 2010 it was by personal names of Mohamed and Qaboos Abdullah Al Khonji and identity of one of Muscat’s longest established real estate companies, Al Khonji Real Estate & Development LLC.

Al Khonji Real Estate & Develop-ment LLC (Aqar) is a subsidiary of Al Khonji Holding LLC and operates as a specialised real estate developer committed to the creation of excit-ing and highly innovative residen-tial and commercial developments which are designed to meet the modern lifestyle of today – espe-cially amongst younger families, professionals and home owners.

The name and visual identity of Aqar have been created to give the new company a simple, memo-rable and single minded brand identity and feel. Its creation has brought together a very talented team of professionals, with many years of experience and expertise in property development, and the implementation of other projects within the Omani market. The tal-ented team is led by Mohamed Al Khonji, the Chairman and Chief Ex-ecutive Officer of Aqar. Mohamed and his brother Qaboos Al Khonji have a long and well established history in the Muscat market and set up their business together 23 years ago.

A5

OMANM O N DAY, O CTO B E R 2 7, 2 0 14

RIMAL GEARS UP FOR COMPLETION BY END OF FIRST QUARTER NEXT YEAR

Mohamed Al Khonji:

Advertorial

Mohamed bin Abdulla Al Khonji, Chairman and CEO of

Al Khonji Real Estate & Development LLC (Aqar), the

leading property developer, revealed a whole set of

varied high-end up-gradations and improvements

associated with latest technologies and features

to be introduced to Rimal. Confi rming the timely

completion of the integrated residential complex

project by the end of fi rst quarter in 2015, Khonji

pointed out that the new features and benefi ts

are all designed at bringing greater comfort

and enriching the lives of investors, providing

added value to their investments. Rimal building under construction

A6

OMANM O N DAY, O C TO B E R 2 7, 2 0 1 4

Facebook pictures help wife detect man’s secret marriageLONDON: A shocked wife learned that her cheating hus-band of 17 years had secretly mar-ried another woman — after she discovered pictures of their wed-ding day on Facebook.

The unsuspecting wife, 55, spotted pictures of her husband, 49, being married again in a lavish £45,000 beach wedding in Oman.

The wedding was attended by the husband’s family, after he told them that he and his fi rst wife had earlier divorced.

The father-of-three, who lives in Oman where he works for an oil company, spun a web of lies, telling family members that his ‘former’ wife was ‘crazy’ and urged his family members not to contact her. Further, he told his family and new ‘wife’ that they were keeping the divorce secret to protect his children.

To add insult to injury, the fi rst wife discovered that her husband had been ‘married’ to his second wife, a teacher, for 11 months.

The fi rst wife found that the oil contractor had even abandoned his family to spend Christmas with the second wife, after claim-ing he had to go away on business.

At Wirral Magistrates’ Court in Merseyside, the fi rst wife de-livered an emotional statement about her husband’s betrayal, say-ing, “I allowed myself to be ma-nipulated and controlled by him.

“At the time of the bigamous wedding, we had been married 17 years. I believed in our marriage and shared values, trust, love and respect for each other, and a sense of morality.

“I loved him unconditionally and believed that love was recip-rocated. I simply don’t have the words to eff ectively convey the

pain and hurt and sense of be-trayal. I have to accept that my husband was unfaithful emotion-ally and physically for a prolonged period of time,” said the fi rst wife.

She added that she could not understand her husband’s actions when he left the family alone for Christmas, after they had trav-elled to Oman to be with him in 2011. She recalled, “He said it was due to the pressures of work. The reality was to conceal the rela-tionship and holiday with her.

“I have tried to understand his actions. Let alone planning it and going to such extremes. He gave the impression that he was fully committed to our marriage.

“The following year he claimed he would spend Christmas with his family, but pulled out citing depression.

“He agreed to come home on the 27th [December] and told my son of the plans, but never arrived. Naturally, I was very worried and thought he must be very depressed.

Christmas was not good for us. “He actually spent that Christmas in the UK with his second wife, with both his and her family.”

The fi rst wife said the couple eventually agreed to divorce, but last February – a week before de-tails were to be agreed – she spot-ted comments about her husband on Facebook and traced them to the second wife’s profi le.

It was then that she discovered he had illegally married the sec-ond wife on 20 March 2013.

She added: “I had no knowledge of her existence or relationship with my husband. It appeared she announced her engagement to my husband on Facebook in May 2012. “To initiate into that biga-mous marriage, my whole mar-riage became worthless.

“If he had wanted a divorce we could have started proceedings years ago. All the pain infl icted was completely unnecessary.

“I feel the intensity could only be seen as a deliberate intent to harm his family.”

The husband pleaded guilty to bigamy and was handed a six month prison sentence, which was suspended for two years.

The District Judge told him: “You initiated into a bigamous marriage, you knew precisely what you were doing at the time you did it, there was no hiding it.

“You can tell just how bitter she is about it, I’m not here to sentence you because she feels bitter, I’m sentencing you for what you have done. You entered a bigamous marriage.“There are plenty of marvellous testimonials on your behalf, but they can’t save you.”

The man was also ordered to pay £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge. -Daily Express

C H E A T I N G H U S B A N D

The first wife found

that the oil contractor

had even abandoned

his family to spend

Christmas with the

second wife, after

claiming he had to go

away on business

Oman favours tobacco taxTimes News Service

MUSCAT: A range of lifesaving policies for public health have been adopted at the fi ve-day meeting of the Sixth Conference of Parties which concluded re-cently in Moscow, Russia.

More than 1,500 delegates from various countries, includ-ing Oman, took part in the con-ference that has adopted the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on To-bacco Control (FCTC).

Dr Jawad Ahmed Al Lawati, director, Department of Non-communicable Diseases Con-trol, Ministry of Health, who took part in the conference, said it was organised to follow up on the tasks of the parties who signed the framework conven-tion to help prevent tobacco-re-lated diseases.

Al Lawati said applying taxes is one of the most eff ective ways to infl uence the demand on to-bacco products. “Tobacco taxa-tion is a very eff ective tool for infl uencing the prices of tobacco – higher taxes usually lead to

higher prices, which in turn lead to lower consumption,” he said.

Over the six-day session, par-ticipants at the conference dis-cussed proposals that were pre-sented by a number of countries as well as the reports of the con-vention general secretariat.

Several landmark decisions were adopted in the course of the session. Despite increased ef-forts by the tobacco industry to undermine the WHO FCTC, im-portant decisions were passed.

Courageous steps “Parties have taken courageous steps forward in a number of ar-eas and I am pleased by the guid-ance to the secretariat to scale up our collaboration with inter-national organisations to reduce tobacco use, while continuing to assist parties in accelerating the implementation of the treaty,” said Dr Vera da Costa e Silva, head of the Convention Secre-tariat in a statement.

One of the fi rst decisions ap-proved by the parties was on Ar-ticle 6 guidelines, devoted to tax measures to reduce the demand

for tobacco. The regulations pro-vide for tax rates to be monitored, increased and adjusted annually, taking into account infl ation and income growth.

Several measures aimed at restricting tobacco industry interference were decided by the parties, which concern im-plementation of Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC. These include requesting the convention sec-retariat to continue providing technical support to the parties, and to engage with international organisations on the matters of infl uence of tobacco companies.

They also agreed to apply a new convention to prevent to-bacco manufacturing companies from interfering in the govern-ments’ tobacco control policies, and treating alternative tobacco intake methods — such as shisha and e-cigarettes — as that would also amount to smoking.

The member states also agreed to set a date for the seventh ses-sion at 2015. Dr Al Lawati of the GCC tobacco control committee will be the acting director of the next conference.

G L O B A L C O N F E R E N C E

Tobacco taxation is a very eff ective tool for infl uencing the prices of tobacco – higher taxes usually lead to higher prices, which in turn lead to lower consumption

Dr Jawad Ahmed Al Lawati, Director, Department of Non-communicable Diseases Control, Ministry of Health

Medical forum opens with call to exchange expertise

Times News Service

MUSCAT: Charting new hori-zons in the fi eld of medical science was the focus of the MED2020 Forum that opened here on Sunday.

The forum was inaugurated with a call to make the best use of the multi-disciplinary panel of

specialists drawn from various fi elds of medicine and healthcare services attending the conference.

Speaking at the opening of the event, His Highness Sayyid Faisal bin Turki Al Said, director general of Marketing and Media at the Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Develop-ment, said, “This forum should be utilised to exchange expertise.”

He added that Oman stands to benefi t from the conference and termed the forum fantastic op-portunity for those in the medical fi eld to gain insight and knowl-edge from leading professionals.

His Highness Faisal informed that the Public Authority for In-vestment Promotion and Export Development plans to host a team of specialists managing interna-tional hospitals in the near future.

MED2020 Forum is organised by WJ Towell and Menacare and is accredited by the Rosalind Frank-

lin University of Medicine and Science – Chicago Medical School. The conference which opened on Sunday will conclude on Monday. The meet’s theme is “Transform-ing the Future of Medicine in the MENA region for Superior Health-care Outcomes.”

Dr. Rabi F. Sulayman, chairman of the organising committee said that the conference strives to lev-erage international excellence in the fi eld of medicine to meet chal-lenges that practitioners in the fi eld face today. “The health of any population can be improved only by implementing transforma-tional models of care to achieve exceptional health outcomes,” Dr Sulayman said.

This forum is specifi cally de-signed not only to share knowledge and discuss the new and exciting innovations in medicine, but also to transform this knowledge into actionable programmes.

MED 2020 opened

with an appeal to

make the best use of

the multi-disciplinary

panel of specialists

AT THE FOREFRONT: MED2020 is a fantastic opportunity for

those in the medical fi eld to gain insight and knowledge from

leading professionals in diff erent areas. – Jun Estrada/Times of Oman

Naming of a disaster

Previously, Oman had named Cy-clone ‘Hudhud’, which slammed India’s coast earlier this month.

Six lists are used in rotation and storms are identifi ed using names from an alphabetically arranged list.

Sri Lanka’s turn is next on the list with the name Cyclone ‘Pri-ya,’ according to the alphabetical arrangement.

Earlier, cyclones and storms were originally recognised by numbers and technical terms that only a select few people, who stud-ied the storm, understood.

Eventually, they were given names for quick and better rec-ognition as also to give out warn-ings about the storm. Although these names were earlier chosen on a random basis, meteorologists eventually started using an alpha-betic pattern.

Thus, a storm with a name that begins with ‘A’ would probably have been the fi rst storm that year.

By mid-1900s these storms were given feminine names.

In 1953, the National Hurricane Center kept a list of names and since then, the storms have been named from this list.

These lists are now maintained and updated by the World Mete-orological Organisation.

Standby lists are also used to replace retired names in previous lists and any replacement will be added to the bottom of the original list to maintain the alphabetical or-der. “All tropical cyclones are given names only to ensure easy commu-nication between weather forecast-ers and the general public regarding forecasts, cyclone watch and warn-ings. Since the storms can often last a week or longer and more than one can be occurring in the same basin at the same time, names can reduce the confusion about what storm is being described,” said a senior IMD offi cial.

C Y C L O N E

< FROM

A1

CYCLONE NAMES Nilofar - Pakistan

Priya - Sri Lanka

Komen - Thailand

Chapala - Bangladesh

Megh - India

Roanu - Maldives

Kyant - Myanmar

Nada - Oman.

A7

REGIONM O N DAY, O CTO B E R 2 7, 2 0 14

UPBEAT: Tunisians show their ink-stained fi ngers after casting their votes in parliamentary elec-

tions in Tunis on Sunday. – Reuters

Tunisians vote for democracy

TUNIS: Tunisians voted on Sun-day in parliamentary elections that bring full democracy fi nally within their reach, four years after their revolution cast out former leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

The moderate party Ennahda and secular alliance Nidaa Tounes are favoured to win most seats in Sunday’s vote, only the second free election in Tunisia since Ben Ali fl ed into exile in Saudi Arabia.

Tunisia has fared better than its neighbours who ousted their own long-ruling leaders in 2011, largely avoiding the polarisation. Jobs, economic opportunities and Tu-nisia’s low-intensity confl ict with militants are the main concerns of a country heavily reliant on for-eign tourism.

After overcoming a political crisis that threatened to scuttle its fl edgling democracy, Tunisia ap-proved a new constitution at the start of the year and won praise as a model for a region struggling with chaos and violence.

The large number of parties taking part in Sunday’s election, from Salafi st movements to So-cialists, means a coalition govern-ment is the probable outcome. The 217-member assembly will

choose a new prime minister. “I always felt bad when I saw other countries freely voting and we couldn’t. Now we have the chance and the freedom to do so and I hope we get complete democracy and liberty,” said Wahid Zamely, 57, fi rst in line to vote in the well-off Soukra neighbourhood in the capital Tunis.

Early turnout at six polling sta-tions around Tunis looked con-stant and orderly, with only a few complaints from voters who had registered but found their names were not listed. Out of more than 12,000 voting centres nationwide only fi ve remained closed on Sun-day for security reasons in Kas-serine, where the armed forces are cracking down on Islamist militants near the frontier with Algeria, electoral authorities said.

Criticised for economic mis-management and lax handling of hardliners, Ennahda leaders say they have learned from their mis-takes in the early years after the revolution. — Reuters

Ennahda party

and Nidaa Tounes

favoured as security,

economic reforms

and jobs are the

major concerns

Bashir wins party support as candidate for 2015 electionsKHARTOUM: Sudan’s ruling par-ty has given fi nal approval to Presi-dent Omar Hassan Al Bashir as its candidate in next year’s presiden-tial vote, sealing his bid to extend his rule after 25 years in power.

Wanted on charges of genocide and war crimes by the Internation-al Criminal Court (ICC), Bashir has reason to fear his future should he leave offi ce as he would have to entrust his fate to a successor. He can now cast those fears aside.

National Congress Party leaders endorsed Bashir by a 94 per cent margin at a party conference late on Saturday. Senior leaders had already eliminated four rival party

candidates in an earlier vote last week. The formal endorsement confi rmed what many in Sudan had expected: Bashir would break his promise to step down and not run for another term in April 2015 polls.

Though the 70-year-old Bashir pledged in January to redraw the constitution, bring opposition par-ties into government, and launch a national dialogue, no visible pro-gress has been made.

The few active opposition move-ments in Sudan are already losing hope of any change in the political climate and some have recently announced their plan to boycott the presidential vote. — Reuters

P R E S I D E N T I A L V O T E

ANOTHER TERM: Sudanese

President Omar Al Bashir stands

on stage during the fourth

General Conference of the rul-

ing National Congress Party in

Khartoum on Sunday. – Reuters

After overcoming a political crisis that threatened to scuttle its fl edgling democracy, Tunisia approved a new constitution at the start of the year and won praise as a model for a region struggling with chaos and violence

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ARTICLE, PHOTOS


A8

INDIAM O N DAY, O C TO B E R 2 7, 2 0 1 4

Khattar now Haryana’s first BJP chief minister

PANCHKULA: Manohar Lal Khattar, mentored by RSS and known for his organisational skills and clean image, on Sunday took oath as Haryana Chief Minister, leading the fi rst BJP government in the state since it was created 48 years ago.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with whom 60-year-old Khat-tar shares proximity, BJP Presi-dent Amit Shah, Union Ministers, veteran leaders L. K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi and Chief Ministers of four BJP ruled states

were present as the ten-member ministry was sworn in at a cer-emony here by Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki.

First time MLAA fi rst time MLA, Khattar, who has a four-decade-long associa-tion with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and BJP, is the fi rst Punjabi to become the chief minis-ter of the state. Khattar is also the fi fth non-Jat chief minister of the state and the fi rst in last 18 years.

Six cabinet ministers, including a woman MLA Kavita Jain (Soni-pat), and three Ministers of State (Independent Charge) were also sworn in at the event attended by a large number of people.

The fi ve other Cabinet ministers sworn in are Haryana BJP Presi-dent Ram Bilas Sharma (MLA from Mahendargarh), Abhimanyu (Narnaund), Om Parkash Dhankar (Badli), Anil Vij (Ambala Cant) and Narbir Singh (Badshahpur).

Three Ministers of State (In-

dependent Charge) — Vikram Singh Thekedar (Kosli), Krishan Kumar Bedi (Shahabad SC) and Karan Dev Kamboj (Indri) — were also sworn in.

A number of Union Ministers including Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Harsh Vardhan, Maneka Gandhi, V. K. Singh, Ram Bilas Paswan, Ananth Kumar, Venkaiah Naidu, Krishan Pal Gujjar were present at the ceremony held at the Sector 5 HUDA Ground.

On October 21, Khattar was elected leader of BJP Legislature Party, two days after the party cre-ated history in Haryana storming to power for the fi rst time on its own in the state.

In a departure from past when swearing-in ceremonies were held at Chandigarh, this time the event was held at Panchkula.

Born in Rohtak district, Khat-tar, a bachelor who once wanted to become a doctor, had contested the fi rst Assembly elections from Karnal where he won by a margin of 63,736 votes.

In the October 15 assembly polls, the saff ron party won 47 seats while the rest were shared by INLD (19), Congress (15) and HJC-BL (2). BSP and SAD got one seat each while fi ve were won by Independents. -PTI

A fi rst time MLA, he

also becomes the

fi fth non-Jat chief

minister of the state

and the fi rst in last

18 years. He is also

the fi rst Punjabi to

become Haryana CM SWEARING IN: Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki adminis-

ters oath of offi ce to the new Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, at

a function in Punchkula on Sunday. - PTI

Kisan Call Centres expert advice a big boost for farmersAFTAB H. KOLAOur Correspondent

BANGALORE: Kisan Call Cen-tres, which provide information to farmers on agriculture and allied industries, are becoming popular among farmers in several Indian states.

Leveraging the country’s im-pressive telecom network, India is making impressive headway in using technology to support its agriculture community.

Farmers are now receiving instant agri-extension services over telephones and by SMS. Over 7 million farmers across the country are registered with the Kisan SMS Portal, launched by the Union Agriculture Ministry and other stakeholders.

SMS’s arrive in each farmer’s preferred language and contain information related to agricul-ture, fi sheries, horticulture, ani-mal husbandry and market pric-es. Some 1.76 billion registered users utilised this free service during one twelve month period, according to offi cials.

The portal has 4,000 registered experts sending out advisories. Farmers can also call a toll-free number to receive instant infor-

mation in their local language from Kisan Call Centres.

Experts note that it is increas-ingly clear that the next leap for India’s agriculture sector will come from information and knowledge transfers to the ag-riculture sector, together with other traditional inputs, inter-ventions and assistance.

Last year, the centre received 4.5 million calls, and the fi gure is expected to reach 10 million this year. Additionally, farmers with an Internet connection can log-on to the Kisan Portal, which of-fers some 20 web-based services, including a buyer-seller inter-face. The purpose of the portal has been to make agricultural knowledge available at no cost to farmers whenever they need assistance.

This programme has an in-built system of monitoring and continuous evaluation for modi-fi cations and improvements.

Assistance from the Kisan Call Centre is available to farmers throughout the country.

At present, Call Centre ser-vices can be reached through toll-free telephone number which can be dialed from anywhere in the country.

A G R I C U L T U R E E X T E N S I O N S E R V I C E S

4,000 Registered experts sending out advisories from the portal.

Farmers can also call a toll-free number to receive instant

information in their local language from Kisan Call Centres

A9

INDIAM O N DAY, O CTO B E R 2 7, 2 0 14

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‘NDA can help chart new course for India’

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in power with its 400-odd MPs represents a big force with positive energy and can help chart a new course for the country.

“Let us think big. Let us think far. Let us think above politics,” Modi said while addressing NDA MPs at a post-Diwali high tea hosted by him at his residence.

All Shiv Sena MPs including Union Heavy Industries Minister Anant Geete were present at the event, as suspense continued over whether the Uddhav Thackeray-

led party will be part of the BJP-led government in Maharashtra.

The Prime Minister, who also talked about the recently launched Swachh Bharat Abhi-yaan, said the initiative has re-ceived tremendous response from all sections of society and called upon all NDA MPs to connect with people as they undertake ef-forts in this regard for Swachh Bharat in their areas.

He urged the MPs to visit schools in their areas over a fi ve-day period beginning November

14, the 125th birth anniversary of India’s fi rst Prime Minister Jawa-harlal Nehru, and explain to chil-dren the importance of hygiene.

‘Swachh Bharat’ messageThis, he said, would send a posi-tive message. The Prime Minis-ter said that achieving ‘Swachh Bharat’ is a tough call but can be achieved with the same spirit as people of the country got together to eradicate polio.

He urged the MPs to take to the people, the work done by the NDA

Government for the welfare of the poor. He also felicitated BJP Presi-dent Amit Shah for the party’s re-cent success in Assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra.

Shah, in his remarks, also called upon the MPs to go and explain to the people, the work being done by the NDA Government.

Greeting the assembled MPs on the occasion of Diwali, senior leader L K Advani said that this festival was the best he had ever experienced, as the party had ris-en to unprecedented heights. - PTI

Prime Minister

Narendra Modi urged

lawmakers to take to

the people, the work

done by the NDA

Government for the

welfare of the poor

Government reverses stand on Aadhaar, lends it full supportNEW DELHI: In a complete U-turn from its earlier stand, the Home Ministry has come out in full support of the Aadhaar scheme saying it will facilitate “anytime, anywhere, anyhow” au-thentication to its benefi ciaries.

In a letter to all state govern-ments, the Home Ministry said that since one Aadhaar number is allotted only to one person, it allows universal verifi cation of one’s identity. Aadhaar card also enables the deprived and needy people to access services like banking facilities.

“Since Aadhaar is based on the demographic and biometric information of an individual, it eliminates the threat of any fraud and bogus activity.

“Aadhaar will provide its pos-sessor with universal identifi ca-tion. (It) will facilitate ‘anytime, anywhere, anyhow’ authentica-tion to its benefi ciaries (and) be a single source of identity verifi ca-tion,” it said.

The ministry’s stand on Aad-haar is in complete reversal of the position taken by it under two predecessors of Rajnath Singh —Sushilkumar Shinde and P Chidambaram.

ConcernsDuring the previous UPA regime, the Home Ministry had raised concerns over the sanctity of the the Unique Identifi cation Author-ity of India (UIDAI)’s database, saying uniqueness of identity was not a necessary condition for en-suring authenticity of identity or genuineness of other entries or records of Aadhaar numbers.

The ministry had raised con-cerns over supporting documents submitted by people as proof of identity and proof of address for getting an Aadhaar number. In its latest letter to the state govern-

ments, the Home Ministry said that the benefi ts of Aadhaar are many and it can be used at multi-ple places to prove one’s identity very easily.

A person’s Aadhaar number can be used while opening a bank account as it meets the ‘Know Your Customer’ (KYC) norms of RBI. The card can also be used for booking tickets online, applying for passport and at many other places where there is a need to provide some proof of identity. “Aadhaar will give migrants uni-versal mobility of identity. The government can now provide services and facilities to people, especially in the rural areas, in a

more eff ective manner. “As more and more government services are going to be linked to Aadhaar, it would be of utility to have an Aadhaar card. Aadhaar will hence help the poor to take the benefi ts or the facilities provided to them by the government which could not be accessed by (them) ear-lier. Aadhaar will thus become the simplest way of proving one’s identity,” the ministry said.

Aadhaar and the National Pop-ulation Register (NPR) are na-tional identity programmes of the government of India.

The former is being imple-mented by UIDAI and the latter by the Registrar General of India under the Home Ministry.

Biometric data“Both collect biometric data cov-ering 10 fi nger prints, iris scan of both eyes and a photograph. The identity and address of the resi-dent are also identifi ed during the enrolment process.

“Aadhaar provides a unique identity number to every resident in the country. The NPR database is sent to the UIDAI for Aadhaar de-duplication and generating Unique Identity (UID) numbers,” the Home Ministry said.

UIDAI was established in 2009 with a mandate to generate and assign UID numbers to residents of India. Under the UID scheme, enrolment is done by registrars through enrolment agencies, and the government provides outcome-based fi nancial assis-tance to them.

More than 67.38 crore Aadhaar numbers have been generated so far by the UIDAI since August 2010, when the fi rst such card was generated. The total expendi-ture incurred by UIDAI since its inception is Rs 4,906 crore (as on August 31, 2014). - PTI

I D E N T I T Y V E R I F I C A T I O N

A person’s Aadhaar

number can be used

while opening a bank

account as it meets the

‘Know Your Customer’

(KYC) norms of RBI. The

card can also be used

for booking tickets

online, applying for

passport and at many

other places where

there is a need

to provide some

proof of identity

401 lawmakers have not declared

asset details as of September 26

NEW DELHI: More than 400 Lok Sabha members including Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Lal Krishna Advani and Rajnath Sin-gh have not declared their assets and liability details to the House secretariat as on September 26, according to an RTI reply.

Lok Sabha Secretariat said in reply to an RTI query that the as-set details of 401 members were awaited as on September 26.

According to the Members of the Lok Sabha Declaration of As-sets Rules 2004, a member is re-quired to declare his assets within 90 days of taking oath.

Lok Sabha MPs who had not

submitted the details by that date included Union Ministers Su-shma Swaraj, Uma Bharti, Nitin Gadkari, and SP supremo Mu-layam Singh Yadav. Lok Sabha Secretariat said no communica-tion in this regard was sent to the members until September 26, when the RTI reply was received.

According to the RTI reply, the members included BJP (209), Congress (31), TMC (27), BJD (18), Shiv Sena (15), TDP (14), AIADMK (9) and TRS (8). Seven members were from YSR Congress, six from Lok Janshakti Party and four each from NCP, CPI (M) and SP, three each from Akali Dal, RJD, and

AAP, and two each from JD(U) and Apna Dal among others.

Action against the members not submitting their asset details are taken under the Assets and Liability Declaration Rules 2004, Provisions 5 and 6, and the Repre-sentation of the People Act 1951, Section 75 (A).

Other MPs who had not yet submitted their details by that date included Harsh Vardhan, Radha Mohan Singh, Anant Geete, Anant Kumar, Ram Vilas Paswan, Amarinder Singh, M Veerappa Moily, Mehbooba Muf-ti, Upendra Kushwaha, Kiren Ri-jiju and Supriya Sule. - PTI

R U L E

Delhi Jama Masjid’s Shahi Imam attackedNEW DELHI: The Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukha-ri, was attacked by a 32-year-old man who tried to set him ablaze during Sunday evening prayers, police and witnesses said. The ac-cused, said to be mentally unsta-ble, was arrested.

The incident took place at the Jama Masjid when the man ap-proached the Shahi Imam while the latter was praying, poured kerosene on him and tried to set him ablaze, younger brother Tariq Bukhari said.

But the attacker failed to harm the Shahi Imam, one of the best known Muslim clerics in the country.

“The Shahi Imam did not re-ceive any external injury,” Tariq Bukhari said.

“The man was later caught by the Imam’s security personnel and others who were praying. He was handed over to police,” he said.

He was identifi ed as Kamalud-din alias Kamal, a resident of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal.

Kamaluddin was taken into po-lice custody but offi cials were yet to decide the charges under which he should be booked. The 17th century Jama Masjid, reputedly India’s largest mosque, is located across the Red Fort. - IANS

I N C I D E N T

TEA PARTY LESSONS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses NDA lawmakers during a tea party

hosted by him at his residence in New Delhi, on Sunday. - PTI

A11

PAKISTANM O N DAY, O CTO B E R 2 7, 2 0 14

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Black Day observed over Shah remarks

SUKKUR / KARACHI: As Mut-tahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) observes Black Day in protest against “derogatory remarks” made by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Khursheed Shah against “muhajirs”, Shah stressed religion and politics should be kept separate, Express News reported on Sunday.

On October 18, Shah had said that Urdu-speaking people of Pa-kistan were now permanent resi-dents and should therefore stop calling themselves ‘muhajirs’.

“The word ‘muhajir’ is a ‘gaali’ (curse) for me and I urge our friends to please stop referring to

themselves as muhajir,” he had said. Addressing the media in Suk-kur yesterday, the PPP leader said all Urdu-speaking people are his brothers. “We Sindhis would not let anyone break the province,” the

PPP leader added. Speaking about the blasphemy charges levelled against him, Shah said several conspiracies had been formulated against him in the past as well.

“Despite all these nefarious

schemes against me, voters have elected me eight times and I have an important role to play in the politics of the country,” he stated.

Former PPP MNA Abdul Qadir Patel, in a press conference, said

that Shah’s statement was misun-derstood and despite his apology, MQM was misusing the situation.

“The word ‘muhajir’ is sacred for me,” Patel said, questioning why MQM removed it from their party name and changed it to Muttahida Qaumi Movement instead.

Referring to blasphemy charges levelled against Shah by MQM leaders, Patel said religion should be kept out of politics.

‘Shutting off ’ news channelsFurther, he criticised MQM for ‘shutting off ’ news channels in parts of Karachi yesterday.

“To cover their news confer-ences held last night and their rally today, they forced you (cable oper-ators) to shut transmission.”

Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minis-ter Qaim Ali Shah accepted resig-nations of three Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmakers, Express News reported on Sunday.

Five lawmakers were part of the Sindh cabinet out of which three – Faisal Sabzwari, Adil Siddiqi and Abdul Haseeb Khan – resigned in protest against Khursheed Shah’s remarks on “muhajirs”.

Spokesperson for CM confi rmed that resignations of two ministers and an advisor were accepted.

A strike-like was witnessed in Karachi on Sunday due to the ob-servance of MQM’s ‘Black Day’ against Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Syed Khursheed Shah’s statement on muhajirs.

Although no major untoward incidents occurred during the day, fear and uncertainty gripped the city. MQM Chief Altaf Hus-sain had appealed to traders and transporters to keep their busi-nesses shut and halt public trans-portation to support the peaceful observance of the ‘Black Day’ and as a result, petrol pumps and CNG stations in various parts of the city were closed.

Within minutes after Mutta-hida Qaumi Movement leader Ab-dul Haseeb’s press conference at the party headquarter Nine-Zero on Saturday evening, traders and shopkeepers closed shops and businesses immediately.

Besides shutting down routine commercial activities, the entry tests scheduled on Sunday at the University of Karachi and Bena-zir Medical University Lyari were also postponed.

Traders said that all business activities will resume on Monday.

All Karachi Tajir Ittehad Chair-man Atiq Mir said even though ma-jor markets are usually closed on Sunday, MQM’s mourning day af-fected the remaining 10 per cent of commercial activities in Karachi.

To avoid any untoward inci-dent, security arrangements in the city including patrolling and snap checks were increased and the law enforcers were asked to take strict action against those behind force-fully shutting the businesses. - In

exclusive arrangement with The Express Tribune

On October 18, PPP

leader Khursheed

Shah had said that

the Urdu-speaking

people of Pakistan

were now permanent

residents and should

therefore stop calling

themselves ‘muhajirs’

KARACHI: MQM chief Altaf Hussain has said that the people of Sindh have decided in favour of a new province by observing a ‘Black Day’ against Khursheed Shah’s remarks about muhajirs.

“The people have spoken about the need of new admin-istrative units or provinces in Sindh and the rest of Pakistan,” said Altaf in a statement issued by the MQM on Sunday.

The Muttahida chief said ‘prejudiced’ feudal lords of Sindh never accepted the Urdu-speaking Sindhis or mohajirs as true Sindhis.

“The PPP sowed the seeds of prejudice and hatred in 1973,” said the statement. “The PPP claims to be a national political party but history bears out that it always used the Sindh card and not the Pakistan card.”

Earlier in the day, MQM

leader Farooq Sattar said his party wanted equal distribu-tion of resources in urban and rural Sindh.

“We want empowerment for both rural and urban Sindh,” said Sattar, addressing an MQM gathering in Karachi.

He argued that their struggle wasn’t against rural Sindh but against feudals who believed in oppression and hereditary politics.

“This movement will cre-ate Jinnah’s Pakistan in real terms,” said Sattar. -Express Tribune

‘Sindh has given its verdict in favour of new provinces’

TALKING TOUGH: MQM chief said the people have spoken

about the need for new administrative units or provinces in

Sindh and the rest of Pakistan. - Express Tribune fi le photo

PROTEST AGAINST SUICIDE ATTACKSupporters of religious political party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) shout slogans against a suicide bomb attack

targeting JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Lahore, on Sunday. A militant group on Friday claimed responsibility for a

suicide bombing targeting the head of a leading Pakistani religious political party. Maulana Fazlur Rehman, head of the Ja-

miat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) party, escaped unscathed from the blast after addressing a rally in the capital of Pakistan’s

Balochistan province on October 23. - AFP

Police kill nine militants in Karachi encounterKARACHI: Nine suspected members of banned militant outfi t Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) and al Qaeda were killed in an encounter with the police on the outskirts of the city on Sunday.

The clash broke out in the Mian Khan Goth area near the National Highway after police received intelligence information about the presence of TTP militants in a hideout.

Earlier this month, police killed seven Taliban insurgents in the Sohrab Goth area on the city’s outskirts.

This time, the police claim to have killed militants plotting to conduct terrorist activities dur-ing Muharram processions. Over half a dozen militants, includ-ing their ring-leader; however, managed to escape during an ex-change of fi re.

In the encounter that began at around 2pm and lasted for about three hours, an extra contingent of police headed by Malir SSP Rao Anwar claim to have killed nine militants of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

“SSP sahib was himself leading the raid,” DSP Qamar Ahmed told The Express Tribune. “The raid

turned into a fi erce gun battle be-tween the police and the militants as the police came under heavy fi re during the raid.”

Retaliation with full forcePolice offi cials said that they later retaliated with full force. As a result of the onslaught, nine militants were killed. The mili-tants also attacked the police, and lobbed hand grenades during an exchange of fi re; however, no of-fi cial was hurt.

Bodies of the killed militants were later shifted to the Edhi morgue in Sohrab Goth for iden-tifi cation after medico-legal for-malities completed at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.

Police said they were trying to learn the identities of the de-ceased. However, the group’s ring-leader, who escaped the scene, had been identifi ed and police was looking for him.

“Their mastermind has been identifi ed as Irshadullah Waziri, son of Ashrafullah,” said DSP Ahmed. “Waziri is an expert in making vehicle-borne impro-vised explosive device (VBIED).” He is also TTP’s Sindh chapter chief, added Rao. Police offi cials

said that the killed and escaped militants were planning to car-ryout major terrorist activities in Karachi during Muharram and had also recovered a huge cache of explosives, hand grenades and weapons.

A rickshaw was also recovered, which had allegedly been used to carryout a bomb blast during the holy month.DSP Ahmed said that the killed militants were also in-volved in major bomb blasts and attacks on police and Rangers in Karachi, adding that they also reclaimed two sub machine guns (SMGs), which belonged to po-licemen killed by the same terror-ists in the city’s Quaidabad area few months back.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s military said on Sunday it had killed 18 militants in air attacks in a trou-bled tribal district near the Af-ghan border.

The strikes took place Saturday night in Khyber district, where the Taliban and another banned militant group the Lashkar-e-Islam have taken refuge, the mili-tary said in a statement.

It said a huge cache of arms and ammunition was also destroyed. - Agencies

I N S U R G E N C Y

Toxic liquor kills four in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: The number of deaths from drinking toxic liquor continue to rise as four more people lost their lives within the past 24 hours in Hyderabad.

Two of the deceased, 45-year-old Imtiaz Gadahi and 35-year-old Nazakat Gadahi alias Babu, died in Civil Hospital on Sunday — a day after they were admitted in the hospital. While, 40-year-old Mewo Bheel and Ramzan Sipio succumbed to the toxic liquor’s eff ect on Saturday.

Dozens of people died after consuming toxic liquor earlier this month.

SuspendedThe mortality fi gures compelled the police to take action against the liquor sellers and hundreds of them were arrested and doz-ens nominated in the FIRs in separate police stations. DIG Hyderabad Dr Sanaullah Ab-bassi also suspended fi ve SHOs and posted 48 policemen, most of them constables allegedly involved in recovering bribes from liquor and narcotics sell-ers, out of Hyderabad district as punishment. -Express Tribune

T R A G E D Y

COMMEN ARYT I M E S O F O M A NM O N DAY, O C TO B E R 2 7, 2 0 1 4

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There was at least one man, more than others, who celebrated the US President’s announcement to take on the Isis. From his rat hole, this man wished to join the US-led co-alition in his eagerness to see Isis exterminated. He is the Al Qaeda

supremo Ayman Al Zawahiri. Far more than the US president and human civilisation, the most threat-ened man on earth today is Al Zawahiri. His sway is clearly on a wane and Al Qaeda is no longer in any po-sition to lead the militant movement. The dramatic and triumphant rise of Isis and its growing appeal have made both Al Zawahiri and Al Qaeda absolutely irrelevant.

Thus far, Al Qaeda has lost and is still losing ground in the grim war against Isis. J.M. Berger, Editor of intelwire.com and author of Jihad Joe: Americans who go to war in the name of Islam, says, Isis “has thrown down the gauntlet to Al Qaeda and seeks to supplant its former ally as the symbol and leader of a global movement.”

In the war to become the superpower in the world of militancy Isis is a clear winner till now capturing the imagination of the new genera-tion militants “with its ruthless pursuit of a Ca-liphate, dramatic territorial gains and relentless propaganda machine.”

Tim Lister says in CNN that the younger genera-tion of (militants) appears to be more impressed by action than sermons. Al Qaeda foot-soldiers from Yemen, Libya and elsewhere are fl ocking to Isis’ standard. To them, its leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi is confronting the apostates and building the Ca-liphate, while Al Zawahiri talks. And Barak Men-delsohn says, Isis’ traipse through Iraq represents a serious organisational, strategic, and ideologicalblow to Al Qaeda.

Both Lister and Mendelsohn are spot on in their observations. Despite the high-decibel criticisms of militant preachers like Abu Muhammad al Maqdisi and Abu Qatada Isis today has perceptibly supplant-ed Al Qaeda. Al Shabaab, even after the death of its leader, Ahmad Abdi Godane, may still have reiterated its loyalty for Al Qaeda. But this expression of fealty is not seen by many as an outcome of any enthusiasm.

Earlier this month, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) announced a seismic shift in its stand and loyalty. On third of October TTP, in a statement is-sued in Arabic, Urdu and English virtually snapped its link with Al Qaeda. Hinting its new alliance and association with Isis TTP, said, in the statement, “All Muslims in the world have great expectations of you... We are with you, we will provide you with mujahideen and with every possible support,” reported Al Arabiya.

In less than a week after TTP’s announcement UZNews.net reported yet another setback for Al Qa-eda. “Pakistan-based Islamic Movement of Uzbeki-

stan (IMU), which is an Uzbek-led militant group comprised of Central Asians that originated in the Ferghana Valley, also issued a statement praising IS leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi’s decision to declare a caliphate.” The IMU leader Usman Ghazi said, “I use this opportunity to congratulate all Muslims with the restoration of the long-awaited Islamic state.

These two shifts of loyalties clearly indicate the growing international support for Isis and the wan-ing base of Al Qaeda. Terrorism observers are now, therefore, convinced that it is only a matter of time that Taliban in Afghanistan too will follow the suit.

Even the strongest of the Al Qaeda affi liates, Al Qaeda in Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has denounced the US decision to launch air attacks on Isis. AQAP described the US move as an “act of war” against Muslims goading all to join this war alongside Isis. Yet, it is virtually impossible to determine the extent of erosion of Al Qaeda’s support. And it will certainly be hasty to write Al Qaeda’s epitaph.

We admit that it is virtually impossible to gauge the extent to which Al Qaeda has lost its leadership to Isis. But it is equally true that given the increas-ing expression of support for Isis we can under-stand and estimate the degree to which Al Qaeda’s support base has corroded. Or what else could be the reason behind the move of AQAP and Al Qa-eda in Maghreb (AQIM) to issue a statement this month appealing the diff erent militant outfi ts to unite in their fi ght against infi del America and for consolidation of the Caliphate.

In its last ditch attempt to salvage its image as a leading fi ghting force against the West and the United States AQAP and AQIM have virtually sur-rendered to Isis’ focus and priorities. Eff orts to cre-ate affi liates in India and elsewhere in the Indian subcontinent, especially in Bangladesh, are seen more as acts of desperation on the part of Al Qaeda to remain relevant.

Yet a question remains. Will it be able to retain its relevance and thwart its passage to oblivion? Well, given its present state of existence and striking abil-ity we are not sure how long will it be able to survive. Since 9/11 Al Qaeda has not been able to carry out any signifi cant operation which can capture the imagi-nations of new generation militants or attract new recruits. It had big plans to repeat 9/11 type attacks by striking against cruise ships, important dams and crucial bridges but could not carry out anything be-yond ‘lone wolf attacks’.

Therefore, to Al Zawahiri the United States is his best ally and in its success against Isis he sees his best chance to overcome the challenge he and Al Qa-eda are now facing.

The author is the Opinion Editor of Times of Oman. All the views and opinions expressed in the article are solely those of the author and do not refl ect those of Times of Oman.

Al Zawahiri wants US to succeed against Isis

We admit that it is virtually impossible to gauge the extent to which Al Qaeda has lost its leadership to Isis. But it is equally true that given the increasing expression of support for Isis we can understand and estimate the degree to which Al Qaeda’s support base has corroded

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 ([email protected])

MATTER OF FACT

The race to stabilise the Earth’s climate was always going to be long, slow one. So slow and so diffi cult that there will always be a temptation to think that it is all too complicated, that im-

mediate problems are more pressing or that China, the United States and multinational corporations will never agree to the radical changes needed. Perhaps we should just give up and resign ourselves to trying to adapt as best we can to climate change once it starts to get serious. That is the sort of fatalism that lies behind the backlash against the environmental ambitions set out by the Government in its early days.

David Cameron seemed sincere in his determination to lead a greener Conservative Party when he became Prime Minister but he has been on the defensive since. From the “greenest government ever” to George Osborne’s “slowest ship in the convoy” moment — his promise that Britain would cut carbon emissions “no slower but also no faster” than other EU countries — the Conservatives now seem to be in headlong retreat. Raising the price of carbon-based energy is the best way to both curtail the output of greenhouse gases and harness the power of market forces to do it effi ciently. We accept this needs international agreement because Britain, or the European Union, can only get a certain distance ahead of the pack. There is a balance to be struck between leadership and imposing costs on ourselves that are not borne by others.

The fatalism expressed by Owen Paterson, the former environment secretary, in a speech in which he confi rmed he had been opposed to the Government’s climate-change policy all along, is now out of date. He claims decarbonising UK electricity generation would be too ex-pensive and for no good purpose while developing countries are in-creasing their carbon dioxide output.

However, world opinion is changing and it is time to cast off fatal-ism and get on with the task of strengthening the global consensus on climate change with a new optimism. - The Independent

It’s time to end the fatalism

Two decades after normalising relations with Vietnam, the Unit-ed States is seeking to forge even closer ties as the two coun-tries face a common challenge in China. To that end, the Obama

administration recently eased a long time ban on providing lethal weapons to Vietnam and approved the sale of technology for a civilian nuclear energy programme. Both initiatives should be carried out with great care so as to ensure regional stability. Private companies eager to invest in Vietnam have been the main drivers of a better relationship. Trade and investment exploded after the United States lifted its eco-nomic embargo in 1994. In 2011, President Obama announced plans to give Asia greater emphasis in his foreign policy — a rebalancing aimed at strengthening ties with countries that, like the United States, are wary about an increasingly aggressive China.

Vietnam and the United States still have divergent political sys-tems — Vietnam is run by a Communist Party and has a dismal human rights record. Yet they share interests in preventing the use of force in maritime disputes, ensuring freedom of navigation and expanding trade. In 2013, Obama and President Truong Tan Sang of Vietnam agreed on a “comprehensive partnership” that pledged cooperation on a range of issues, including defence and energy. China is Vietnam’s top trading partner, and Vietnam has tried hard not to provoke it. But China’s decision in May to position a massive oil rig in an area of the South China Sea claimed by Vietnam caught Hanoi off guard and ex-posed its vulnerability. One result is the Obama administration’s move to partly lift the ban on transfers of lethal arms, a term that embraces a broad array of military items but in this case refers to fairly modest defence systems.

The transfers should be limited to such systems and approved case by case. Vietnam has little ability now to do surveillance. Some Ameri-can offi cials want to off er P-3 surveillance planes; a wiser course would be to start by providing less sophisticated and less threaten-ing items like patrol boats — unarmed, but capable of carrying guns at some future point — for Vietnam’s coast guard. Caution is justifi ed because Asia is awash in new weapons and America needs to consider how arming its partners will aff ect regional tensions. China tends to interpret America’s increased engagement as a threat.

Vietnam has emerged as a major player in America’s plans to build a regional counterweight to China, despite the trauma of the Vietnam War. Though Vietnam’s repressive system is a brake on the partner-ship, offi cials are optimistic that a younger generation of Vietnamese will come to see that a freer society is necessary and can only enhance their country’s standing in the world. In the meantime, it is in Ameri-ca’s interests to engage Vietnam whenever it can. Caution is also justi-fi ed because of Vietnam’s poor human rights record.

America cannot be so eager for partnership that it transfers weap-ons without calibrating such decisions based on how Vietnam treats its own people. - The New York Times News Service

A deepening partnership

between US and Vietnam

D E B A S I S H M I T R A

SMEs failed to take off because of the visa banThis refers to the news arti-cle, Why SME projects are still struggling to take off in Sultanate (October 26). It is indeed unfor-tunate that the SMEs, which were conceived to become critical cata-lysts for the growth of economy in Oman by generating employment and creating business opportuni-ties, have come to such a pass. More than being looked upon as a national obligation foisted on the country and lackadaisical attitude of the fi nancial institutions, SMEs in Oman have failed to take off on the right note because of the visa ban. No small and medium enterprise can fl ourish without sound domain knowledge and when that knowledge is not avail-able in the country it becomes imperative for the entrepreneurs

to hire skilled workers and knowl-edge from the international pool. The visa ban has deprived the entrepreneurs that opportunity which has ultimately contributed to the languish. I hope that with the ban withdrawn now the SME entrepreneurs will now be able to hire and projects will fl ourish.Eric StromayerQurum

Please do not take away the beaches from peopleThis refers to the news story, People call for ‘balanced’ beach-front development (October 24). It is hugely disappointing when you go just a short way up the coast and fi nd a beautiful beach which you are no longer able to enjoy because some tour operation has taken it over. Do we really need

another hotel in between the two that already exist and when nei-ther hotel operates at full capaci-ty? It’s not about stopping tourism development rather about doing it in a way that is smart and retains what makes Oman special.Jessica Wittmann DakinMuscat

Desecration of pristine coasts happening all overThis refers to the news story, Peo-ple call for ‘balanced’ beachfront development (October 24). Once your beautiful coastline is built on and defaced, it is gone forever. Don’t allow it to happen in your country. This type of desecration to pristine areas is happening all over the world. Gai PritchardInvercargill, New Zealand

Haphazard parking creates chaos in the Ruwi areaParking in the Ruwi area, espe-cially in front of a hyper market, has become a matter of perennial problem. Most of the time parking is not done in a proper sequence which ultimately creates chaos at the exit points. The authori-ties should look into the matter to ensure smooth movement of vehicles. Shaikh HishamRuwi

India may host FIFA World Cup sometime in futureI feel India is becoming a hub of sports and games. The success of ISL will enable India to host FIFA World Cup in future.Ashoke PanickerSeeb

READERS’ FORUM

When anger rises, think of the consequencesCONFUCIUS

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PERSPEC IVET I M E S O F O M A N M O N DAY, O CTO B E R 2 7, 2 0 14T I M E S O F O M A N A13

Some journalists stumble into this profession without re-ally meaning to. The rest of

us, being romantic, take up our pens because we want to be like our heroes. For me, those heroes

split into two types. First there were sportswriters, of which C L R James, John Arlott and Christo-pher Martin-Jenkins were my fa-vourites. And then there were the great editors, lions of society who wielded huge power with nothing more than the printed word.

I devoured their books, from Andrew Neil and Max Hastings to, in an earlier age, the great Alastair Burnet and Harry Evans.

But nobody in the history of my trade embodied this heroic fi gure, or inspired me to take up journal-ism, like Ben Bradlee, who died this week.

The obituaries have focused on his extraordinary qualities, not least courage. Courage in overcoming polio (as, by the way, our own Patrick Cockburn did); courage in printing the Pentagon Papers when all around him said don’t; and courage in taking on a president. By all accounts he was

a man of exceptional generosity, decency and charisma.

But I can’t stop thinking about another quality he had in spades: luck. So much of great leader-ship is being lucky with timing, and Bradlee timed his every move to perfection.

He reported from Paris in the 1950s, befriended the Kennedys in the 1960s, and felled Nixon in the 1970s. More crucially, he turned a decent newspaper into a journalistic titan at that mo-ment in history when (partly be-cause of him) newspapers were at their zenith.

It’s true that you make your own luck. Bradlee’s judgement, energy and panache produced acres of great journalism long before and after Watergate. But as he had the good grace to admit, he was fortunate in having a publisher who backed him almost uncon-ditionally, exceptional reporters

— and the resources to set them free. Naturally there has been a heavy dose of nostalgia in cover-age of Bradlee’s death. I happen to think that journalism’s best days are still to come.

Yes it’s true that much has changed since this lion of Wash-ington and two reporters with rat-like cunning deposed a president; but the fundamentals haven’t.

Public appetite for scandal and scrutiny is greater than ever — and we now have the kind of tool-kit Bradlee, in his pomp, could only dream of.

Journalism has been affl icted by crises in recent years, whether commercial and technological (the internet) or institutional.

In this context, the right re-sponse to Bradlee’s death is not to say we shall never see his like again — but to use his example as a spur to being the best journalists we can be. - The Independent

TODAY IN HISTORY

OPINION POLL

97 To placate the Praetorians of Germany, Nerva of Rome adopts Trajan, the Spanish-born governor of lower Germany.

1553 Michael Servetus, who discovered the

pulmonary circulation of the blood, is burned for heresy in Switzerland.

1612 A Polish army that invaded Russia

capitulates to Prince Dimitri Pojarski and his Cossacks.

1806 Emperor Napoleon enters Berlin. 1862 A Confederate force is routed at the

Battle of Georgia Landing, near Bayou Lafourche in Louisiana.

OMAN WILL PARTICIPATE IN TURKEY EXHIBITIONMUSCAT: The Sultanate, represented by the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture, will participate in the fi fth international exhibition for arts and tradi-tional crafts, to be held in Turkey, from October 16 to 24. Hassan bin Mohammed bin Ali, general supervi-sor of exhibitions, at the ministry said the Sultanate’s participation comes in the context of boosting existing cultural relations with Turkey. Exhibits from the Sul-tanate will include sample products of traditional crafts and industries.

FROM OUR ARCHIVES

The Pemra divide was evident when three channels of Geo TV were taken off air in June this year with a fine of Rs10 million imposed for broadcast deemed as defamatory of the Inter-Services Intelligence after its anchor Hamid Mir was shot by unidentified assailants and Geo aired allegations of the spymaster’s involvement, leading to a furore

ARY, a private TV channel that has been the bane of the ruling Pakistan Mus-lim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with its

chutzpah, has just escaped suspension. The channel, however, is not quite out of the

woods as yet.Consider. The Lahore High Court directed

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Author-ity (Pemra) last Friday to take Kharra Sach (Hard-Knuckle Truth), Mubasher Lucman’s talk show, off air for defaming judiciary and en-sure the anchor hosts neither the programme nor is seen on any other TV show either as a host or participant. But Pemra went an extra mile and suspended the TV channel for 15 days as well. This action, the state-run regulator pointed out, in a subsequent press note, was in compliance with the court’s order.

But when ARY CEO Salman Iqbal and an-chor Lucman appeared before the court after bailable warrants were issued against them for non-appearance until then, Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi reportedly bristled at Pervez Rathore, Pemra’s Acting Chairman, for overreach, saying nowhere did the court direct the regulator to suspend the channel.

But even before the Pemra chief’s auda-cious step to get the cable operators to ground ARY could take eff ect, the Sindh High Court suspended the Pemra suspension notifi cation itself! The ruling will accentuate cynicism about Pemra, which remains a house divided. A full-time chairman has yet to be appointed since President Mamnoon Hussain dismissed its last chief in April this year.

Rathore, who is close to the Sharifs, was handpicked to fi ll the void in acting capacity, which itself became a subject of a petition fi led by private members of Pemra.

The petitioners contended that the rules did not allow for an acting chairman. The Islam-abad High Court (IHC) upheld the petitioners’ stance that Rathore’s appointment was against the rules of procedure, and stood him down.

But the tables were turned when a two-mem-ber Supreme Court bench set aside the IHC de-cision on an appeal fi led by the federal govern-ment and reinstated Rathore. The counsel for the federation contended that the IHC decision had been reached without its response.

Mian Shams, a private Pemra member and one of the respondents, apart from citing rules of procedure violation, also told the court that Rathore had no media qualifi cation to hold the post. The apex court however, ruled the re-spondents could go back to the IHC and that it should hear and decide the case on merit.

The Pemra divide was similarly evident when three channels of Geo TV were taken off

air in June this year with a fi ne of Rs10 million imposed for broadcast deemed as defamatory of the Inter-Services Intelligence after its an-chor Hamid Mir was shot by unidentifi ed as-sailants and Geo aired allegations of the spy-master’s involvement, leading to a furore.

As with the Geo case, the ARY one, too, has strong political undercurrents even though the role of the ruling PML-N has been strikingly divergent in each case.

While the Sharif government sided with Geo in its standoff with the ISI — at one stage, the PM even went on record to say there was no question of the channel being suspended or banned — rapidly deteriorating ties with the military forced his hand with the result that Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif felt constrained to fi le a complaint with Pemra to take Geo off air!

Even as recently as last month during a joint sitting of the Parliament, Sharif was caught by TV cameras, egging on Federal Minister for In-terior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to name Geo as a victim of the brutality suff ered by several pri-vate channels covering the anti-government protests during a police crackdown on the Constitution Avenue that the government was itself accused of orchestrating!

However, in the case of ARY, the Sharif gov-ernment is accused of using Pemra to ease out the channel, particularly host Mubasher Luc-man, who has relentlessly, exposed what he claims are proofs of massive corruption and irregularities committed by the ruling party and its leaders at various levels. In recent days, tapes purporting to show Punjab Law Minister Rana Mashood taking bribes and the alleged involvement of the Sharif clan in underhand deals have left the PML-N seething.

Lucman appeared to push his luck too far when he levelled serious allegations of the in-volvement of Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, who took a suo moto notice of the epi-sodes in which fi ngers were pointed at him.

The ARY case has raised debate surrounding the limits of media freedom. What the Geo and ARY cases have reinforced is that the constitu-tional cover enjoyed by the armed forces and the judiciary, especially their conduct largely remains a no-go area and any critique will eventually be judged on their terms.

As for the media, the elusive benchmark — long after the Geo episode — remains respon-sible journalism.

The author is a senior journalist based in Islama-bad. All the views and opinions expressed in the article are solely those of the author and do not refl ect those of Times of Oman.

Court rescues TV channel facing Nawaz Sharif’s ire

HISTORYNET.COM

Main parties in Ukraine’s parliamentary election

GraphicsGraphic News /Source: Wire agencies

Ukraine looks set to elect its most pro-European parliament ever, with polls suggestingat least six parties will surpass the five percent vote threshold required to win seats inthe Verkhovna Rada.

Comprises Solidarity party of President Petro Poroshenko, and UkrainianDemocratic Alliance for Reform) led by Vitaly Klitschko. Expected to win most seats and form government with other reformist parties

Poroshenko Bloc

New party formed by Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk after split withBatkivshchyna. Likely to enter into coalition withPoroshenko bloc

People’s Front

Party of former vice prime minister Serhiy Tigipkorevived in August following its two- year merger withnow-defunct Partyof Regions

Strong Ukraine

Party of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko hit by recent high- profile defections. Has made joining NATO its major election issue

Batkivshchyna

Pro-European, populist party formed in 2010and centred aroundOleh Lyashko. Favoursuse of force to resolve Donbas conflict

Radical Party

Appealing to formerParty of Regions electorate. Group founded by SerhiyLyovochkin, chief of staff under former presidentViktor Yanukovych

Opposition Bloc

450seats

225 seatsProportional

party lists

26 seatsVacant

(no vote in Crimea and

Donbas areas)

VerkhovnaRada

199 seatsSingle

member districts

on firstpast the

post basis

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The British social re-former, Eglantyne Jebb, once noted that the only

international language that the world understands is the cry of a child. Nearly a cen-tury after Jebb founded Save the Children, the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Malala Yousafzai, the 17-year-old campaigner for girls’ edu-cation, and child-labour op-ponent Kailash Satyarthi. The Nobel Committee thus rec-ognised a global civil-rights struggle against child traffi ck-ing, child labour, child mar-riages, and discrimination against girls.

Given recent and on-going confl icts in Syria, Iraq, Gaza, and South Sudan, which have devastated so many young lives, the Nobel committee had good cause to highlight children’s suff ering. Schools, which should have been sanctuaries, have become military targets.

Thousands of children in Syria and Iraq have been press-ganged into military service. Despite the eff orts of United Nations relief agencies, the carnage this summer has cre-ated an additional one million child refugees.

The vulnerability of chil-dren was illustrated only too well six months ago, when Boko Haram abducted 276 Nigerian schoolgirls. Even if all of the kidnapped girls are returned safely, as a truce be-tween the group and Nigeria’s government stipulates, there are still 15 million children under the age of 14 worldwide who are forced to work, of-ten in appallingly exploitative environments.

A further ten million school-age girls are married off as child brides each year, while around 32 million girls are denied the right even to an elementary education. But a worldwide counter-off ensive is now underway. Satyarthi’s Global March Against Child Labour has rescued thousands of boys and girls, as young as eight, working as slave labour-ers in India’s back streets and sweatshops. The organisation has inspired a worldwide cam-paign to lift children out of ex-ploitation and into education.

Meanwhile, Yousafzai — fol-lowing her defi ant response to an assassin’s bullet two years ago — has led the fi ght to end discrimination against girls. Her impact has been remark-

able. Visiting Pakistan im-mediately after that attack, I saw angry girls cowed into submission by their fear of the Taliban.

On a return visit a few weeks ago, I addressed some 2,000 girls about education. Inspired by Yousafzai, they were far from quiescent; on the con-trary, they were vocal in their demands for the same rights that boys enjoy.

Hundreds of local child-liberation groups, some in the least promising of places, have emerged to fi ght for children’s civil rights.

These include the Freed Ka-mlari Development Forum; the Upper Manya Krobo Rights of the Child Club; and the Yellow movement, which campaigns for youth rights in Ethiopia.

These young activists may not yet be trending on Twit-ter or Facebook, or even be household names in their own countries, but support for their cause is growing fast. Consider the campaign for child-mar-riage-free zones, which began with schoolgirls in 20 areas of Bangladesh uniting to fi ght against child marriage.

Yousafzai and Satyarthi would undoubtedly point to thousands of others like them who are protesting against child marriage, labour, and traffi cking.

Indeed, for the past two years, the Youth Courage Awards have recognised campaigners — role models for a new generation — who have transformed the pros-pects for children in their own countries.

They include: India’s Ashwi-ni, a visually impaired champi-on for disabled children; Attal, who created a girls school in his family kitchen in Afghani-stan; Shweta who grew up in a South Asian brothel and cre-ated a support group for traf-fi cked and abused girls; and Salyne, whose organisation, Teach For Lebanon, is helping to educate many of the coun-try’s half-million Syrian and Palestinian refugees.

One Youth Courage award winner, Razia, who at the age of nine was forced to stitch footballs when she should have been in school, started her civ-il-rights work after Satyarthi rescued her. She is now leading the campaign in India for the right to education.

The campaign against child exploitation and for education has become global. The organ-isation A World at School is now circulating the biggest-ever petition in support of the Millennium Development Goal of universal education.

The sad fact is that children are doing more than adults to fi ght for their own rights. Nonetheless, the child-libera-tion movement that Satyarthi, Yousafzai, and others have helped to mobilize is growing by the day, and new, coura-geous voices are speaking out against injustices that cannot be allowed to persist for an-other generation. - Project Syndicate

Champions of the children

When a great editor dies...

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SCENE OF OFFENSIVE: People watch as smokes rises from the

town of Kobane, also known as Ain Al Arab, on Sunday at the

Turkish border near the southeastern village of Mursitpinar,

Sanliurfa province. – AFP

UK’s combat role in Afghanistan ends

CAMP LEATHERNECK (AF-GHANISTAN): British troops ended their combat operations in Afghanistan on Sunday as they and US Marines handed over two huge adjacent bases to the Afghan military, 13 years after a US-led invasion launched the long and

costly war against the Taliban. Their coming departure leaves

Afghanistan and its newly in-stalled president, Ashraf Ghani, to deal almost unaided with an em-boldened Taliban insurgency af-ter the last foreign combat troops withdraw by year-end.

At the US Camp Leatherneck and Britain’s Camp Bastion, which lie next to each other in the south-western province of Helmand, troops lowered the American and British fl ags for the fi nal time on Sunday and folded them away.

The timing of their withdrawal has not been announced for secu-rity reasons.

Camp Leatherneck, the largest US base to be handed over to Af-ghan control, and Camp Bastion

together formed the international coalition’s regional headquarters for the southwest of Afghanistan, housing up to 40,000 military per-sonnel and civilian contractors.

But on Sunday, the base resem-bled a dust-swept ghost town of concrete blast walls, empty bar-racks and razor wire. Offi ces and bulletin boards, which once showed photo tributes to dead American and British soldiers, had been stripped. “It’s eerily empty,” said Lt. Will Davis, of the Queen’s Dragoon

Guards in the British Army. Camp Bastion was also where Prince Har-ry was based in 2012 as an Apache helicopter gunner.

In all, 2,210 American soldiers and 453 British soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since 2001, when the US-led coalition toppled the Taliban government for har-bouring Al Qaeda after the mili-tant group carried out the Septem-ber 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. The coalition has been led by Nato since 2003, and includes forces from Germany, Italy, Jordan and Turkey. After Sunday’s cere-mony, the Afghan National Army’s 215th Corps will be headquartered at the 28 sq km (11 sq mile) base, leaving almost no foreign military presence in Helmand. — Reuters

Last US Marines hand

over base; Afghan

military to take over

deserted bases

Kurdish forces thwart fresh IS bid to cut off KobaneMURSITPINAR: Kurdish forc-es in the Syrian town of Kobane thwarted a new attempt by fi ght-ers from the IS group on Sunday to cut off the border with Turkey before Iraqi Kurdish reinforce-ments can deploy.

The pre-dawn assault marked the fourth straight day that the militants had attacked the Syrian side of the border crossing as the Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga fi ght-ers prepare to head for Kobane, the Syrian Observatory for Hu-man Rights said. Kurdish forces, backed by US-led air strikes, have been holding out for weeks against an IS off ensive around Kobane, which has become a high-profi le symbol of eff orts to stop the advance of the militants.

More than 800 people have been killed in ground fi ghting for Kobane since the IS off ensive on the Syrian Kurdish enclave began on September 16, the Observa-tory said. The militants have lost 481 dead, while 313 Kurds have been killed fi ghting to defend the area, said the Britain-based group, which has a wide network of sources inside Syria.

The fi gures do not include IS losses to US-led air strikes, which the Pentagon has said run to “several hundred.”

Civilians accounted for 21 of the dead. The militant assault prompted nearly all of the en-clave’s population to fl ee, with some 200,000 refugees stream-ing over the border into neigh-bouring Turkey.

New US-led air strikeA new US-led air strike hit IS fi ghters in Kobane as the coali-tion kept up its air support for the town’s defenders, an AFP corre-spondent on the Turkish side of the border reported.

But the lion’s share of coali-tion strikes in recent days have

been in neighbouring Iraq as Washington has voiced mount-ing confi dence that Kobane’s fall to the militants can be prevented following US arms drops earlier this month. The US-led military coalition fi ghting IS launched fi ve air strikes against IS targets near Kobane and with the help of partner nations another 12 sepa-rate strikes in Iraq, the US Cen-tral Command said on Sunday.

In Iraq nine air strikes were made around the strategic Mosul Dam and three air strikes south-east of Fallujah.

Call for cooperationMeanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Al Abadi called for greater cooperation with Jordan in the battle against the IS militant group, as he held talks on Sunday in Amman, state media reported. Abadi met separately with King Abdullah II and Prime Minister Abdullah Nsur. He briefed Nsur on what he called “security and terrorist challenges facing Iraq, particularly ones from Daesh which is destroying Iraqi civilisa-tion,” Jordan’s state news agency Petra said.

Iraqi government forces re-took four villages on Sunday near a mountain ridge overlook-ing IS supply lines, security of-fi cials said, in a campaign which has struggled to make advances against the insurgents.

After months of fi ghting they drove IS militants out of Jurf Al Sakhar, just south of Baghdad, while Kurdish fi ghters regained control over the town of Zumar in the north. Insurgents have been moving fi ghters, weapons and supplies from western Iraq through secret desert tunnels to Jurf Al Sakhar, Iraqi offi cials have said. Now it appears gov-ernment forces may be able to disrupt that network. — Agencies

W A R A G A I N S T M I L I T A N T S

ALL SET FOR DEPARTURE: Soldiers salute as the British, Nato,

Afghan, and US fl ags are seen on their masts during a handover

ceremony before the British and US military withdrawal from the

Camp Bastion-Leatherneck complex at Lashkar Gah in Helmand

province on Sunday. – AFP


ARTICLE, PHOTOS


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WORLDM O N DAY, O CTO B E R 2 7, 2 0 14

Brazilians cast votes in tight runoff elections

SAO PAULO: Brazilians voted on Sunday in a bitterly-con-tested election that pits a leftist president with strong support among the poor against a centrist senator who is promising pro-business policies to jumpstart a stagnant economy.

Final polls on the eve of the vote gave a slight edge to incum-bent Dilma Rousseff , who is seek-ing a second four-year term. Her Workers’ Party has held power for 12 years and leveraged an economic boom to expand social welfare programs and lift over 40 million people from poverty.

But many voters, especially upper-middle class and wealthy Brazilians, believe former state governor Aecio Neves off ers a much-needed change of the guard for Latin America’s biggest econ-omy. A decade of strong economic growth peaked at 7.5 percent in 2010 and has fl agged since Rouss-eff took offi ce. Brazil’s most com-petitive presidential campaign in decades was also the most acri-monious in recent memory, domi-nated by negative advertising and a steady drum beat of corruption allegations. The race looks like a choice between two camps - those who feel they are better off after more than a decade of Workers’ Party rule or those who believe Brazil is stuck in a rut.

“People have had enough... so we are looking for other parties and other solutions for our coun-try,” said Marcelo Fernandes de Araujo, 45, a banker in Rio de Ja-neiro who voted for Neves.

Voting progressed smoothly at electronic polls across three time zones, from far-fl ung Amazon villages to Sao Paulo’s business district. Casting a ballot is man-

datory for everyone between the ages of 18 and 70 and more than 140 million are registered to vote.

Rousseff , 66, voted early in the southern city of Porto Alegre, where she lived and rose in the state bureaucracy in the 1990s. She has promised to deepen fl ag-ship welfare programs and to seek to restore growth with a new eco-nomic team. Neves, 54, says he will keep the popular social ben-efi ts while adopting more market-

friendly fi scal measures to rein in public spending. He plans to take a tougher stance against infl ation and give the central bank more autonomy to set monetary policy.

Accompanied by his wife, a for-mer model, Neves cast his ballot in Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais state. He governed there with high approval rat-ings despite implementing tough economic austerity measures to erase the state’s defi cit. — Reuters

Final polls on the

eve of the vote gave

a slight edge to

incumbent Dilma

Rousseff , who is

seeking a second

four-year term

Indonesian president unveils cabinet

JAKARTA: New Indonesian President Joko Widodo unveiled his cabinet on Sunday, which in-cluded the country’s fi rst female foreign minister, after a lengthy delay caused by anti-corruption

authorities’ concerns about sev-eral candidates.

Key fi gures include Retno Mar-sudi as foreign minister, Bambang Brodjonegoro as fi nance min-ister and Sofyan Djalil as chief

economics minister. It included eight women, a higher number than in the previous cabinet. The 34-member cabinet is broadly split between professionals and party politicians. — AFP

G O V E R N M E N T F O R M A T I O N

US envoy condemns world response on Ebola

CONAKRY: The United States envoy to the United Nations criti-cised the level of international support for nations hit by Ebola as she began a tour on Sunday of west African nations struggling with the disease.

Samantha Power said before arriving in Guinea that too many leaders were praising the eff orts of countries like the United States and Britain to accelerate aid to the worst-aff ected nations, but were doing little themselves.

“The international response to Ebola needs to be taken to a wholly diff erent scale than it is right now,” Power told NBC News before boarding her plane.

She said many countries “are signing on to resolutions and praising the good work that the United States and the United Kingdom and others are doing, but they themselves haven’t taken the responsibility yet to send docs, to send beds, to send the reasonable amount of money”.

After Guinea, Power will travel to Sierra Leone and Liberia. Those three nations account for the vast majority of the 4,922 deaths from the virus.

She will also visit Ghana, where the UN mission fi ghting Ebola is based, before meeting EU offi cials in Belgium.

More than 10,000 people have contracted the Ebola virus, ac-cording to the latest World Health Organization fi gures. — AFP

W E S T A F R I C A V I S I T

The international response to Ebola needs to be taken to a wholly diff erent scale than it is right now

Samantha Power, United States envoy to the United Nations

RUNNING FOR SAFETYA photographer runs as Mount Sinabung volcano erupts with ash clouds, as seen from Karo District on Sumatra island. Su-

per heated lava and giant ash clouds reaching two kilometres into the air spewed from the crater of Mount Sinabung volcano

threatening villages during its recent series of eruptions. Sinabung began erupting in September 2013 and in February 2014 an

eruption killed about 17 people while more than 33,000 residents were forced to fl ee their homes. — AFP


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

THE CONTENDERS: Left, Aecio Neves, Brazilian presidential can-

didate of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), holds his

twin daughter Julia and waves at supporters with his wife Leticia

Weber, right, holding their twin son Bernardo from a window of

his mother Ines Maria’s house in Sao Joao del Rei, Minas Gerais

state, Brazil, on Saturday. Brazil’s President and Workers’ Party

(PT) presidential candidate Dilma Rousseff embraces her grand-

son Gabriel after she voted in the runoff election in Porto Alegre

on Sunday. – AFP/Reuters

SAO PAULO: A Brazilian man was shot to death in an apparent settling of scores while he stood in line to vote in the country’s presidential run-off election on Sunday, police said.

The attacker opened fi re on the 20-year-old man as he queued to vote at a school in Mossoro in the northeastern state of Rio Grande do Norte.

“We suspect it was a private revenge attack. It doesn’t have anything to do

with the election,” a state police offi cial said.

Voting at the polling sta-tion was suspended after the shooting while authorities removed the body, radio network CBN reported.

In Rio de Janeiro, which has been hit by a string of attacks on police and drug gang clashes in recent weeks, authorities have posted 35,000 military po-lice—nearly triple the usual number—for the vote. — AFP

Voter shot in revenge attack

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War-weary Ukraine votes in polls

KIEV: A divided Ukraine voted on Sunday in parliamentary elec-tions expected to back President Petro Poroshenko’s pro-Western reforms and test support for his plan to negotiate with pro-Russian insurgents threatening to break up the country.

Reformers and nationalists sup-porting a drive to steer Ukraine out of Russia’s sphere of infl uence were expected to dominate, with the Petro Poroshenko Bloc the big-gest party, although needing part-ners to form a ruling coalition.

The snap election came eight

months after a street revolt over-threw Moscow-backed president Viktor Yanukovych, sparking confl ict with Russia and a crisis in relations between the Kremlin

and Ukraine’s Western allies. The war with pro-Russian rebels in the industrial east, in which 3,700 people have died, and Russia’s ear-lier annexation of the southern

Crimean region, overshadowed the election.

Voters in Crimea and in separa-tist-controlled areas of the eastern Lugansk and Donetsk provinces—

about fi ve million of Ukraine’s 36.5 million-strong electorate—were unable to vote.

Twenty seven seats in the 450-seat parliament will remain empty.

Dressed in camoufl age, Po-roshenko helicoptered in for a sur-prise visit to Kramatorsk, a gov-ernment-held town in the heart of the confl ict zone.

Dramatic gestureThe dramatic gesture was clearly meant to show that the beleaguered region has not been forgotten.

However, the disenfranchise-ment of the separatist areas and Crimea seemed likely to further cement the once peaceful, but now bloody faultline between Ukraine’s Russian-speaking east and Ukrainian-speaking west.

After casting a vote for the radical nationalist Svoboda par-ty in the capital Kiev, Tatyana Kryshko, 75, refl ected the grim national mood.

“I know things will be hard fi -nancially. I think that we won’t live to see a rich and strong Ukraine, but that our children and grand-children will,” she said.

Polls show a majority of Ukrain-ians support economic and dem-ocratic reforms—especially a crackdown on corruption—lead-ing eventually to European Union membership. — AFP

Reformers and

nationalists

supporting a drive

to steer Ukraine out

of Russia’s sphere

of infl uence were

expected to dominate,

with the Petro

Poroshenko Bloc

the biggest party

Gaza truce talks in Cairo postponed

CAIRO: Israeli-Palestinian talks on a lasting Gaza truce are to resume after mid-November, instead of Monday as initially planned, the chief Palestin-ian negotiator Azzam Al Ahmad said on Sunday.

Crossing closedThe announcement came after other Palestinian offi cials said the talks had been postponed due to Egypt’s closure of the Rafah border with the Gaza Strip. Egypt closed Rafah, the only crossing into Gaza not con-trolled by Israel, after a bomb attack by a suspected militant on its troops in the Sinai Penin-sula on Friday killed 30 soldiers. Egypt also imposed a state of emergency on parts of the Sinai, which also borders Israel.

“The indirect talks between Israelis and Palestinians have been postponed until the sec-ond half of November,” Ahmad said from Cairo. — AFP

A N N O U N C E M E N T

SNAP ELECTIONS: People cast votes as Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko speaks to media at a polling station in Kiev on Sunday. – AFP


ARTICLE, PHOTOS


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WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COMM O N DAY, O C TO B E R 2 7, 2 0 14

OMAN, IRAN TRADE BODIES SIGN SIX PACTS Six memorandums of understanding (MoUs) have been signed between Oman and Iran trade bodies to boost commercial ties between the two countries in several areas. >B4

Oman plans to reduce subsidies next year, says finance minister

KUWAIT CITY: Oman’s govern-ment is likely to start cutting some state subsidies next year as the de-cline in global oil prices pressures its fi nances, Minister Responsible for Financial Aff airs Darwish bin Ismail Al Balushi said on Saturday.

The country’s original budget plan for 2014 assumed the govern-ment would run a defi cit with an average oil price of $85 a barrel. For most of this year the oil price

has been much higher, but in the last few months it has dropped steeply to as low as $82.

Ineff ective subsidy systemOman has been considering ways to reform its costly and sometimes wasteful subsidy system, though reductions in spending would be politically sensitive. Asked by Reu-ters whether cuts were likely next year, Balushi said; “Yes, I think the

time is probable and especially with the decline in oil prices.

“I think the people would be more understanding now, more accepting. They realise that this was natural wealth that is being overused, wasted...”

In an interview on the sidelines of a meeting of Gulf Arab fi nance ministers and central bank gover-nors in Kuwait, Balushi also said the current subsidy system was

ineff ective because it did not focus on poorer people.

Priorities“Everybody gets, people who de-serve and people who do not. I think if we rationalise it and use the saving for better priorities, that will defi nitely have a return for the people of Oman.”

The subsidy reforms will pro-ceed gradually and make sure peo-ple who deserve state aid are not aff ected, Balushi said.

He did not give details of which subsidies would be cut, but in the past has described petrol as an obvious target.

BondsOmani officials have said the government may return to the international debt market for the fi rst time since 1997 to cover a budget deficit.

Balushi said, however, that the government’s priority was to make its fi rst issue of Islamic bonds for the domestic market. “Sukuk for the local market is I would say more clear at the moment, and we might be doing it during the fi rst quarter of next year.”

Omani bankers say a rial-de-nominated sukuk issue would be a boost for the country’s fl edgling Islamic fi nance industry, giving sharia-compliant banks a badly needed tool with which to manage their liquidity.

The sukuk issue might be worth the equivalent of around $300 million or $400 million, Balushi said; the government has been considering maturities of fi ve and seven years.

“We want to create a bench-mark. We are not under pressure to go and take what comes. No, we look at more options and see which one will serve the government ob-jective and also the economic ob-jective and the fi nancial market.”

The international bond issue is expected to follow later next year and its size “will depend on our

requirement based on our 2015 budget”, Balushi said.

Oman’s original 2014 budget plan envisaged state spending of OMR13.5 billion ($35.1 billion), up just fi ve per cent from the original 2013 budget, which envisaged a 29 per cent leap from 2012.

No plan to cut spendingBalushi said spending in the 2015 budget plan would be around the same level as the 2014 budget or marginally higher. He said there was no plan to cut spending on the big infrastructure projects which Oman is building to diversify its economy beyond oil.

“For years we have been grow-ing at a relatively fast pace and I think we will slow down. But hav-ing said that, it is not our intention at the moment to cut expenditure where we would aff ect especially development projects for infra-structure,” he said.

“There is no intention unless if the trend with the oil price contin-ues declining downwards. It is not clear at the moment if oil prices will sustain and at which level.

“We do not want to come up with a policy response that will create nothing but more confusion for our programmes. We want to do it gradually, in a steady manner.” — Agencies

The subsidy

reforms will proceed

gradually and make

sure people who

deserve state aid are

not aff ected, Oman’s

Minister Responsible

for Financial Aff airs

Darwish bin Ismail

Al Balushi said

Oman signs pact as founding member of Asian Infrastructure Investment BankTimes News Service

MUSCAT: Oman, represented by the State General Reserve Fund (SGRF), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on October 24 in Beijing, China with 21 other Asian coun-tries that are represented by their respected ministers of fi nance and representatives of the fi nan-cial and investment institutions, in preparation for the establish-ment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

The MoU, on behalf of the Sultanate, was signed by Abdul-salam Al Murshidi, Executive President of SGRF, and was at-tended by Sheikh Abdullah bin Saleh Al Sa’di, Ambassador of the Sultanate to the People’s Republic of China.

21 countriesThe 21 countries that signed the MoU includes Sultanate of Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, China, Brunei Darussalam, Bangladesh, India, Uzbekistan, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Lao P DR, Malay-sia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Viet-nam, according to a press release.

The authorised capital of AIIB will be $100 billion and the initial subscribed capital is expected to be around $50 billion. AIIB’s headquarters will be located in Beijing. After signing the MOU, it is expected that there will be con-tinuous negotiations and talks

between the signatory countries and interested parties, if any, to formulate the articles of the agreement, as it is expected to be fi nalised by the mid of 2015. Ac-cordingly, AIIB will start working at the end of 2015.

Win-win stepAbdulsalam Al Murshidi, assured that by this win-win step, the Sultanate is one of the founding countries that contributed in set-ting the objectives and the modus operandi of the bank; and the Sul-tanate will have an opportunity to benefi t from the facilities which the bank will provide for fi nancing the ambitious infrastructural pro-jects in the country. Furthermore, there will be job opportunities for qualifi ed Omani candidates in the banking sector to work in AIIB.

“The bank will operate on prof-itability basis, as one of the objec-tives of establishing the bank is to enable the Asian countries to develop their infrastructural sec-tor that will facilitate the com-munications and interrelation-ships within the continent and with the other continents. This step will serve the mutual trade of goods, food products, and min-eral resources,” he added.

AIIB will work closely with World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other multilateral and bilateral development institu-tions in complementary way to promote regional cooperation and partnership in addressing development challenges.

A S I A I N F R A S T R U C T U R E I N V E S T M E N T B A N K

STRATEGIC MOVE: Abdulsalam Al Murshidi (right) with Shekh

Abdullah bin Saleh Al Sa’di. — Supplied picture

Darwish bin Ismail Al Balushi. — Times fi le picture

Source: Annual Budget 2014, Ministry of Finance Graphics

Subsidy projection(In 2014 budget)

Subsidy for petroleum products

Share of petroleum products in total subsidy

OMR 1,608 million

OMR 860 million

53%

Total subsidy (and government participation)

B3M O N DAY, O CTO B E R 2 7, 2 0 14

MARKET

Gulf oil producers riding out price fall

KUWAIT CITY: Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states are set to resist pressure to tighten the taps signifi cantly to shore up oil prices as the global economy stumbles, analysts say.

Oil prices have fallen by a quar-ter since June as excess supply and weaker demand create a glut on world markets, prompting some other exporters to call for cuts in output. But while curbing production could help to arrest the price decline, it would also leave the Gulf states at risk of losing market share.

Fortunately for the six nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) — which sit on 40 per cent

of the world’s oil and a quarter of its natural gas — they are fl ush with cash, analysts said.

“The GCC states are in a strong position to remain steadfast for a few years” if there is a dispute over production, Kuwaiti oil ana-lyst Mussa Maarafi said.

“Saudi Arabia and most Gulf states will not be bothered a lot, at least in the short term” and “will be able to resist pressure to cut production and lose market share”, Maarafi , a former member of Kuwait’s Supreme Petroleum Council, said.

The benchmark US oil price has fallen to levels not seen since mid-2012, while in London Brent North Sea crude is around a four-year low. The price of US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) stood at around $81 a barrel on Friday while Brent was changing hands for about $86.

Fiscal cushionPrices had rebounded briefl y on Thursday as traders reacted to an unconfi rmed report that Saudi Arabia trimmed its crude sup-plies slightly in September. But the recovery proved short-lived as markets grew sceptical about the report and fretted over slug-gish demand.

Analysts said the Gulf nations were likely to remain relatively sanguine about market condi-tions. “I don’t think GCC states will be harmed a lot by the drop in oil prices in the short term,” Saudi economist Abdullah el-Kuwaiz said. The Gulf nations have based their budgets on an oil price of $80 a barrel or less, said the former senior GCC economic offi cial.

“Most of the GCC states have built a strong fi scal cushion that allows them to bear the conse-quences” of the price fall, Kuwaiz added. Four GCC states — Ku-wait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — together produce 16 million barrels a day, accounting for more than half of the total pumped by the Opec oil exporters’ group. The other two, Oman and Bahrain, are not members of Opec.

The revenues of the GCC states, mostly from oil, rose from $366 billion in 2009 to $729 bil-lion last year, says Kamco invest-ments fi gures and the IMF. - AFP

Crude prices have

fallen by a quarter

since June as excess

supply and weaker

demand create a

global glut

HAVE YOUR SAY Send us your comments at facebook.com/timesofoman blog.timesofoman.com [email protected]

Sabic posts decline in quarterly net profi t

RIYADH: Saudi Basic In-dustries Corp. reported an unexpected decline in third-quarter profi t as the world’s biggest petrochemicals maker suff ered from lower sales. The shares dropped.

Net income fell to 6.18 billion riyals ($1.65 billion) from 6.47 billion riyals a year earlier, the Riyadh-based company, known as Sabic, said in a statement to the Saudi Stock Exchange to-day. The mean estimate of eight analysts was for a profi t of 6.61 billion riyals, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

“The decrease in net income is attributable to lower quanti-ties sold and other income, de-spite lower fi nancial charges,” according to the company. It didn’t provide further details.

Sabic, which in 2007 bought General Electric Co.’s plastics unit for $11.6 billion, said in April it plans to expand in Chi-na and the US as it’s more diffi -cult for the company to grow in the kingdom due to a shortage of gas.

The company’s affi liates, Saudi Arabian Fertilizer Co. and Yanbu Petrochemical Co., post-ed quarterly profi ts that topped analysts estimates. - Bloomberg News

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Oman, Iran ink pacts to enhance trade ties

ELHAM [email protected]

MUSCAT: Six memorandums of understanding (MOUs) have been signed between Oman and Iran trade organisations to boost commercial ties between the two countries.

The agreements were signed by the Al Dakhiliyah branch of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) and the Mazandaran’s Chamber of Com-merce, Industries, Mines and Ag-riculture, during a recent visit by a 16-member Omani delegation to the northern Iranian province of Mazandaran.

Ibrahim bin Said Al Nabhani, chairman of the Omani trade body, led the delegation during their three-day visit to Iran, ac-cording to Mazandaran Chamber of Commerce news portal.

Al Nabhani said that the two countries enjoy long-standing re-lations, while Oman remains en-thusiastic about increasing trade with the countries in the region. “The Omani side is making eff orts to remove the obstacles in the way of Iranian investors,” he noted.

Al Nabhani also expressed hope that the initial agreements for cooperation in areas such as livestock, poultry, agriculture and meat products will produce

meaningful results. According to Ali Ehsani, deputy governor general of Mazandaran, the MOUs call for cooperation in holding joint exhibitions, trade activities, scientifi c exchanges and tourism, as well as the export of fruits and foodstuff s.

Exchange of know-how“Also, two agreements were signed for the supply of protein products and developing the technology for creating a poultry chain,” Ehsani was quoted as say-ing. The exchange of know-how in cultivating fl owers and plants, and exporting them, were stipulated in another agreement, he added.

“Eff orts are underway to in-crease visits with Oman”, he said, adding that the Omani delegation came to the conclusion that they can benefi t from Mazandaran’s potential. “Our expectation from these MOUs are not limited to the supply of technological services and foodstuff exports. Rather we expect to see joint investments by the private sectors (of both countries),” noted Ehsani.

Gholamreza Ashriyeh, chair-man of the Mazandaran Cham-ber of Commerce, said that the Omani delegation visited several locations, including an oil and gas company, a fruit garden, an indus-trial complex and an investment fi rm. The delegation also became more familiar with tourist attrac-tions in the Iranian province.

Twenty-fi ve million domestic and foreign tourists visit the prov-ince annually, noted Rabi Fallah, Mazandaran’s governor general.

The value of Oman’s im-ports from Iran stood at OMR215,774,867 in 2013.

Six MoUs were

signed between

trade bodies during

a recent visit by a

16-member Omani

delegation to IranSIGNING SESSION: Gholamreza Ashriyeh, left, and Ibrahim bin

Said Al Nabhani signing the memorandums of understanding

to boost ties in several fi elds. - Supplied photo

HAVE YOUR SAY Send us your comments at facebook.com/timesofoman blog.timesofoman.com [email protected]

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E- IMESTECH STUFFTECH STUFF

BSOFTWARE REMOVAL TOOL FOR GOOGLE CHROMEGoogle has a free utility that can help you take your browser back — the Software Removal Tool at www.google.com/chrome/srt. The programme (which is still in the beta-testing phase) runs on Windows. Once installed, it scans the PC for software known to hamper Chrome and off ers to remove it — including programmes that may evade your regular antivirus software because they are not quite malicious enough. Google has more information on the Software Removal Tool at bit.ly/1wLmTG1.

M O N DAY, O C TO B E R 2 7, 2 0 14

FARHAD MANJOO

Late in 2012, when Tim Cook was relatively fresh on the job as Ap-ple’s chief executive, he made a sudden and po-

tentially risky shuffl e in the fi rm’s executive ranks. He fi red Scott For-stall, who had been in charge of Ap-ple’s mobile operating system, the most important piece of software Apple produced. Forstall had long been one of Steve Jobs’ favoured lieutenants, but in addition to pre-siding over a couple of high-profi le failures — including Apple’s Maps app — he was known for his combat-iveness within the company.

Cook had little patience for that attitude. As he later explained in an interview with Bloomberg Business-

week, the reshuffl ing was meant to “get us to a whole new level of collabo-ration.” In public appearances since, Cook has repeatedly returned to this idea of cohesiveness. Apple, he likes to point out, is alone among tech fi rms in producing the entire collection of digital technology that people use daily, from the devices we crave to the operating systems that power them to the applications and services that make them useful. We are now be-ginning to see the fruits of Cook’s vision of a tightly integrated Apple. Over the last few months, Apple has introduced a series of devices that work best as part of an inte-grated lineup. Apple is no longer making lonely individual products. Its phones, tablets, computers and the mobile and desktop operating systems that run them are blend-

ing into a single, inseparable whole. The minute you use one of them, the more sense it makes to begin using several others. And the more of Ap-ple’s stuff you use, the better your experience becomes.

But one note of caution. Apple’s beautiful ecosystem is a bit like the Hotel California: Once you check in, you might never leave. As I ex-plained last February, this can be a mistake. It’s wise to split your com-puting time and money among the dominant tech platforms, because if any one of them dies or acts in ways you don’t like, it won’t be so tough to escape to something else. The best strategy remains: Buy Apple’s hardware, use Google’s services and get media from Amazon. That way you get the best of all worlds — Ap-ple’s hardware is terrifi c, Google’s

services are ubiquitous, and Ama-zon’s media is cheap and works eve-rywhere — but you’ll never have to fully commit to one.

Over the week, to test Apple’s waters, I ignored my own advice and went all in on its ecosystem. I used its latest iPhone, its newest iPad and the brilliant new desktop it began selling last week, the iMac with a Retina 5K display. I also used the latest versions of Mac operating system, Yosemite, and iOS 8.1, the mobile operating system found on Apple’s phones and tablets.

And as much as I could, I tried to shift most of my work to Ap-ple’s apps. I ditched using Google’s Chrome browser in favour of Ap-ple’s Safari, I switched from Gmail’s Web interface to Apple’s Mail app, and I began writing my articles in

Pages, Apple’s word processing app, instead of Microsoft Word. I also paid for my goods with Apple Pay.

What I found was, for the most part, just what Apple has promised: An integration of hardware and soft-ware that works intuitively as you move among the gorgeous devices.

In the past, Apple’s two operating systems were distinct islands. The system that ran the Mac and the sys-tem that ran the mobile devices had a strikingly diff erent visual appear-ance, and what happened on each one usually stayed there. Now, with Yosemite, the Mac shares the iP-hone’s overall aesthetic, with many icons across the two platforms bear-ing a striking similarity.

Blissful reductionThe result is a blissful reduction in cognitive load. As you switch from one kind of machine to the other, buttons and other interface commands gener-ally look the same, so there’s less guess-ing what happens when you press each one. If you’re familiar with the Share button on your iPhone - an inscrutable rectangle with an upward arrow — its appearance on your Mac will make per-fect sense. In Finder, you click Share to mail a document or post a photo to Fa-cebook. In Safari, click Share to tweet a link. Many buttons work the same way; across devices, Apple’s hardware and software now usually do just what you think they will do.

Until they don’t. Apple’s ecosys-tem is now so integrated that the places that haven’t yet been meshed together stand out starkly and an-noyingly. Some of the Mac’s icons now look unnecessarily diff erent

from those on iOS devices, some-times so diff erent that it seems as if the designers were being malicious. In iOS, the Messages app icon is green and white. On the Mac, it’s blue and white. On the new iP-hones, the Power button is on the right side of the device. On the new iPads, it’s at the top. Apple is a company obsessed with details, and these details are off . The most obvious eff ort to promote integra-tion between mobile devices and the Mac is a set of features Apple calls Continuity. Broadly, they allow you to share resources like your cellular data connection between your Mac and your phone, and also to pick up where you left off as you fl it from phone to tablet to computer. At fi rst blush, this might not sound novel. Most phones, including the iPhone, have long had the ability to share their connections with computers. Google already lets you sync your data across devices; you can pull up the Chrome tabs you opened on your phone this morning on your PC tonight. And a variety of third-party programs allow you to share fi les.

But Apple’s implementation of all these features stands out for its simplicity and ease of use. Take the Instant Hotspot feature. When you go to your Mac’s Wi-Fi drop-down menu to choose an Internet connec-tion, you’ll see your phone listed as a way to connect if your phone is near your computer. There is usually no setup and no password required; just select the option and you’re off , your computer now connecting to the Internet through your phone.

— The New York Times News Service

Apple is no longer

making lonely

individual products.

Its phones, tablets,

computers and the

mobile and desktop

operating systems

that run them are

blending into a single,

inseparable whole

Apple’s smooth integration set to leave you impressed

S M A R T A P P L I C A T I O N

THEY MAY not be pumpkin spice-fl avoured, but there are plenty of Halloween apps to keep you busy during the spooky holiday season.

If pumpkin carving is a big part of your Halloween tradition, you can fi nd some inspiration in “Hallow-een Pumpkin Carving Patterns,” free on iOS, and “Pumpkin Carving Ideas” by ZaleBox on Android, also free. Both are catalogues of clever pumpkin creations that other peo-ple have made over the years.

They are just images, though; it’s up to you and your knife-wielding skills to try to recreate them, be-cause instructions on how to do so are not included. Neither is very sophisticated, and the pop-up ads on “Carving Patterns” may get an-noying. But both may inspire you to try something more interesting than the old zigzag smile face.

If you don’t like messing with pumpkin pulp, then the free “Hal-loween Pumpkin Carver” app by Santos Apps on Android and “Pumpkin Carver Plus,” free on iOS, may interest you. These let you “carve” an image of a pump-kin by drawing or dragging diff er-ent options for eyes, nose and so

on into place on an orange pump-kin image on your phone’s screen. These may be a great way to keep children occupied while you tackle the real thing.

Among Halloween-themed games, “Candy Blast Mania: Halloween,” free on iOS, may be among the most entertaining. You swipe the screen to match groups of coloured candies that fall into a rack, and complete challenges as you go. The cute and amus-ing graphics and fast-paced gameplay make it lots of fun. But the Halloween theme is a bit thin, and in-app purchases can quickly add up.

For a completely diff erent Hal-loween game experience, you may enjoy “Hidden Object - Happy Haunts,” free on Android. You have to fi nd specifi c items that are clev-erly hidden in complex drawings or paintings. The app’s graphics are ex-cellent and pleasantly seasonal, and it will keep you amused for hours.

Dressing up for a Halloween party has never been as much fun as when you combine a creative costume with “Digital Dudz,” free on iOS and Android. The app con-

tains a number of special graphi-cal eff ects, like a beating heart or a scanning cyborg eyeball.

You hide your phone in a clev-erly constructed costume so that its screen is on display, and then scare the living daylights out of un-

suspecting people. The hard part is building your costume or mask, but the development team off ers some pre-made outfi ts for sale. One note: Some user reviews have complaints about its quality, as well as its compatibility with some

Android phones. If you prefer to spend time with your young fam-ily members, don’t forget “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” which is $6 on iOS and $5 on An-droid. It’s an interactive storytell-ing app that includes games and

other activities. It is nicely made, with great graphics. It also might be interesting to see if the low-key sto-rytelling of classic Charlie Brown is appealing to 21st-century children.

Many Halloween-themed apps could be useful for teaching young-sters. “First Words Halloween,” $2 on iOS, is a spelling app for young children. “Math vs. Zombies” asks you to solve math puzzles quickly to defeat oncoming zombies. It’s free (but has some in-app purchas-es) on Android and is $5 on iOS.

Finally, for some excellent Hal-loween-themed recipes, look no further than the “All Recipes Din-ner Spinner” (free on iOS and An-droid). It has thousands of recipes, including ideas for what to do with all that pumpkin fl esh.

Quick callThere are many weather apps, but “Weather Timeline — Forecast,” $1 on Android, is a new and refreshing entry to category. With clear graph-ics and text, the app quickly com-municates a summary of the next day or so and the rest of the week, including alerts. — KIT EATON/The New York Times News Service

Don’t be afraid of these Halloween-themed apps

Don’t litter a beautiful country like OMAN.

Ensure proper disposal of garbage.

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Mazda6 wins car of the year award

MUSCAT: After earning glowing praise and winning several awards all over the world, the Mazda6 recently won an accolade on the home turf as well and has been awarded the ‘Automan Car of the Year’ in the mid-size car category, says a press release.

The 2014 Mazda6 has been praised for its combination of su-perb handling, overall ride com-fort, excellent overall packaging and well-proportioned design.

“The Mazda6 has caught the fancy of automobile experts worldwide, and the rate at which it has notched up one award after another this year itself has earned it the reputation of being the most

acclaimed car in recent times. The design, safety and performance innovations in the Mazda6 have enabled it to achieve a high degree of customer satisfaction, which is evident in the growing number of Mazda6 cars on the roads of Oman,” said a senior spokesperson of Towell Auto Centre.

Passion for drivingA pure form of excitement, crafts-manship, sports driving, proactive safety, and a winner of the prestig-ious ‘Red Dot Award’, the Mazda6 is for those who have a passion for driving, and is available in 2.0 and 2.5 litre ‘Comfort’, ‘Prestige’ and ‘Luxury’ models. The sedan

comes with a new Skyactiv engine which delivers more power and driving pleasure than before and also provides effi cient fuel con-sumption. In addition to this, the

all-new Mazda6 also embodies the new KODO design theme that was launched by Mazda globally.

Created in line with Mazda’s ‘Zoom- Zoom’ philosophy, the

Mazda6 has a 5-speed active-matic, 6 speed automatic trans-mission, advanced keyless entry system, 8-speaker Bose premium sound system, xenon auto head-lamps, 19” alloy wheels, 6 airbags, cruise control, fog lamps, 4-sen-sor, 3-channel ABS with EBD, and a 6 CD MP3 changer.

To be widely recognised as the best vehicle available in the mid-size market, the Mazda6’s under-lying concept rests solidly on three fundamental pillars — a sporty ap-pearance integrated with a highly dynamic character; a unique ex-perience; an insightful package. Harmony of sharp edges with richly curved surfaces adds to the Mazda6 visual appeal.

Expansive interiors Powerful wheel arches, attached like wings to an airplane’s fuselage, create an athletic stance and instil a dynamic character. The car’s in-teriors have an expansive feeling without losing its focus on fun for the driver, combined with comfort and safety for all passengers. Seats are highly refi ned with soft-look volumes combined with comfort-

able cushions and highly eff ective side bolsters. Attractively curved surfaces blend the console into the instrument panel.

“The Mazda6 is a mid-size se-dan that doesn’t behave like one, and off ers all the standards in its class like four-doors, fi ve-passen-ger seating, interior roominess, comfort and convenience features and lots of cargo space. However, the car also goes one step further by adding style, performance, technology and passion,” added the spokesperson.

Towell Auto Centre provides service to all models of Mazda and makes owning a Mazda extra pleasant with its effi cient after sales service and quick response time. With a network of 13 ser-vice outlets and ten parts outlets spread across Oman, TAC is the only Mazda distributor in the world to win the Mazda Customer Service award.

With 98.2 per cent parts deliver-ability, TAC also off ers quick, ef-fi cient service with genuine parts available for all models and have highly trained staff who pride in their quality of service.

The 2014 Mazda6 has been praised for its

combination of superb handling, overall ride

comfort, excellent overall packaging and

well-proportioned design

CCE to host international conference on water, wastewater and sanitationMUSCAT: Caledonian College of Engineering (CCE) is to organise the 12th Specialised Conference on Small Water and Wastewater Systems and 4th Specialised Con-ference on Resources Oriented Sanitation in partnership with the National Institute for Agricultural Research–Laboratory for Envi-ronmental Biotechnology, France.

These specialised sessions, combined into a single confer-ence, will be held between No-vember 2 and 4 in Muscat, under the patronage of Dr Ali bin Ma-soud bin Ali Al Sunaidy, Minister of Commerce and Industry, who will inaugurate the event on No-vember 2 at the Al Hail campus of CCE, says a press release.

The conference is being pro-

moted by the International Water Association (IWA), a well-known global network of professionals spanning research and practice, covering all facets of the water cy-cle. The IWA encompasses more than 30,000 professional and 500 corporate members who collabo-rate to promote the development and implementation of innovative and eff ective approaches to water management.

“The Sultanate is highly privi-leged by hosting this international conference as the fi rst country in the Middle East region. Organisa-tion of this event by Caledonian College of Engineering is a badge of honour for all workers in state institutions. Sultanate of Oman is a fertile arena to provide oppor-

tunities for participants to enrich their experience and technological techniques in similar projects in the country. The college has won the opportunity to organise this event as a result of the mutual re-search and scientifi c eff orts made in the fi eld of sewage treatment studies and research in alternative and renewable energy through the use of the waste,” said Dr Ahmed Al Balushi, dean of the College.

The Sultanate has given partic-ular emphasis over the past decade or more on developing and manag-ing water resources to overcome the problem of water scarcity. Water and wastewater treatment plants play an important role in the management of water qual-ity in local areas and are the sub-

ject of global attention. This IWA conference, held for the fi rst time in this region, will address issues and technological development concerning the provision of safe drinking water and reliable waste-water collection and treatment for small community application.

This conference aims to bring together practitioners, consult-ants, equipment manufacturers, plant operators and academia to discuss and exchange new devel-opments within research, develop-ment, design, application of small water and wastewater treatment, and resource-oriented sanitation systems. This is sponsored by The Research Council in Oman, Haya Water and Ministry of Regional Mu-nicipalities and Water Resources.

W A T E R M A N A G E M E N T

Jotun set to create a colourful impression at The Home ShowMUSCAT: Jotun, the region’s leading paint manufacturer, is participating in the three-day Home Show 2014 starting today at the Oman International Exhibi-tion Centre, says a press release.

Being a platform that attracts the maximum number of quality visitors, comprising major con-tractors, homebuilders, property developers, interior designers, other industry professionals along with end users, it explains Jotun’s presence at this prestig-ious show. Jotun Paints Oman will be showcasing their interior and exterior range of products as well as their latest design collec-tion samples to give customers a

chance to see, touch and feel the end results themselves.

Jotun has also invited re-nowned interior designers to their stand to give end users a not-to-be missed opportunity to interact and consult with the profession-als, providing them one-stop solu-tions for their home décor.

“We had an outstanding foot-fall in our stand and had garnered excellent reviews and reports from all around the town last year. This experience showed us that end users rely on Jotun since we have earned their trust and loyalty,” said Mahira Saqib, assis-tant marketing manager, Jotun Paints Oman.

P A R T I C I P A T I O N

Don’t let technology disrupt your career pathIT’S no secret that keeping up with advances in technology is critical to surviving and thriving in the business world. What can you do if you’re not a born ‘techie’? Here are some ways to increase your savvy:

Get over your denial. Avoid jumping to the conclusion that a new technology will not aff ect you. Don’t get hung up on the way you’ve always done things.

Think ahead. Have a vivid

imagination and think about all kinds of diff erent possibilities for the way technology could impact your position and your industry.

Embrace change. It is always frightening to change, especially if you have been successful in what you are doing. But with the waves of technology sweeping across diff erent industries, change is be-coming the norm.

Seek a tech mentor. Ask for the advice of a colleague who ac-

tively engages with technology. Set goals. Outline clear, meas-

urable goals to achieve mastery of a new technology, whether it’s creating a professional blog and posting three times per week, or resolving to update a LinkedIn profi le quarterly.

Practice. Like anything else, becoming a master of technology tools requires practice. Commit to spending a set amount of time each day blogging, Tweeting, or scan-

ning tech headlines and blog posts.Stay current. Keep up on tech-

nology trend to familiarise your-self with new tools that might become integral to your position or industry.

The fi nal conclusion: Avoid denying that a technology will af-fect your career, your organisation or your industry. Lead the charge to change the status quo and em-brace the technology. — Henry Lucas/

The Washington Post

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You need to overcome the tug of people against you as you reach for high goals. — George S. Patton

QUOTES

If one advances

confidently in

the direction of

one’s dreams, and

endeavours to live the

life one has imagined,

one will meet with a

success unexpected in

common hours.

— Henry David Thoreau

Success is waking up in

the morning, whoever

you are, wherever you

are, however old or

young, and bounding

out of bed because

there’s something out

there you love to do,

that you believe in,

that you’re good at —

something that’s bigger

than you are, and you

can hardly wait to get at

it again today.

— Whit Hobbs

Plastic takes 1,000 years or more to break downWHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW. DON’T WASTE A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY LIKE OMAN.

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Omantel names sole distributor for its products

MUSCAT: Omantel, the lead-ing telecommunication provider in the Sultanate of Oman, has signed an exclusive agreement with Sale International to act as its sole agent for the distribu-tion of Omantel products which include Hayyak starter kits and top-up card. The sole agent will avail these products to the sub-distributor at the various gover-norates, says a press release.

The award of the contract comes after the public tendering process by Omantel for appoint-ing a sole agent for Omantel prod-ucts to ensure availability and easy access by all customers to the company products through-out the Sultanate. The sole agent

will rely on a number of SMEs that will deliver and avail these products at the diff erent outlets in the Sultanate that will make them available for the end-users.

“The indirect sales play an important role in ensuring avail-ability of all our products to all customers throughout the Sul-tanate. The agreement will en-able us to develop and streamline the distribution process thus ensuring the availability of our products to all our customers across the country,” said Waleed Mohammed Al Rahbi, Indirect Sales Senior Manager at Oman-tel Consumer Unit.

Moreover, the appointment of a sole distribution agent for Om-antel products will on the other hand foster the growth of SMEs and limit the irregular sales by street vendors, mostly expatri-ates. As per this agreement, the company will ensure regular de-livery of products to the outlets at the diff erent governorates.

Sales International has already signed contracts with sub distrib-utors at the various sales points, more than 550 that will avail Hayyak starter kits and top-up

cards. The products will be also availed through Omantel outlets and customer service points.

‘The partnership with Sale International will create a wide network of sales points through which customers can purchase the prepaid cards or top up cards which in turn will make Omantel products available anywhere in the Sultanate, he concluded.

“We are pleased with the trust that Omantel placed in us and be-ing appointed as the sole distribu-tor for Omantel starter kits and top-up cards. We will do our best based on our experience to ensure that Omantel are available to all customers at all times throughout the Sultanate. As a sole distribu-tor, we will rely on a number of SMEs to help nourishing these enterprises. We are also proud of the fact that 70 per cent of our manpower are Omanis,” said Mo-hammed Abdul Rahman Al Ansari, CEO of Sale International.

Omantel owns 3,000 electronic vouchers device (EVD) in diff erent regions which come in line with Omantel eff orts to streamline the distribution process and ensure the convenience of its customers.

The award of the

contract comes after

the public tendering

process by Omantel

for appointing Sale

International as

the sole agent for

Omantel products to

ensure availability

and easy access by

all customers to the

company products

throughout Oman

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

SPOR SY O U R G A M E

SECTIONC M O N DAY, O C TO B E R 2 7, 2 0 14

RUTHLESS WILLIAMS AVENGES LOSS TO HALEPSerena Williams destroyed Romania’s Simona Halep 6-3, 6-0 yesterday to win the WTA Finals championship in Singapore, proving once again why she remains the most formidable force in women’s tennis. >C3

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P

Times News Service

MUSCAT: Hani Shaban’s sched-ule has become very hectic these days. The Clerk of the Course for the Oman International Rally (OIR), to be held from October 30 to November 1, is busy fi nalising various aspects of circuit opera-tions, including communicating with course marshals and check-ing the track conditions.

It’s has been almost a month since the offi cial from Syria landed in Muscat to oversee the OIR, a candi-date event for the prestigious Middle East Rally Championship (MERC). Having worked closely with the Oman Automobile Association (OAA) offi cials, he doesn’t have any doubts about the success of the OIR, organised after a seven-year gap.

“The preparations for the Oman International Rally are in full swing. The stages have been marked and the road book has been prepared. drivers would realise the uniqueness of the track from the fi rst day itself,” he sounded opti-

mistic. According to him, the pres-ence of 24 teams itself augurs well for the competition.

“Drivers in the region have shown a lot of enthusiasm to take part in the three-day competition. It is an impressive number for a re-gional event, which shows Oman’s reputation as a rally destination,’’ he said. Shaban, who visited the track many times, felt that drivers would realise the uniqueness of the track from the fi rst day itself.

“Another major attraction is the Super Special Stages (SSS), where drivers have to negotiate with both gravel and tarmac surfaces. Drivers have to be cautious in tyre selection, usage and maintenance. Moreover, it will test their technical skills too.”

Shaban felt that a tough SSS would attract more crowds. “It is imperative to adopt diff erent ap-proaches to retain spectator interest in rallies.” The OIR is one of the three

candidate events that aim to make it to the Middle East Rally Champion-ship (MERC) calendar from next year. Abu Dhabi and Iran, the other two contenders, have already suc-cessfully hosted the events.

The competition in Abu Dhabi saw Abu Dhabi Racing’s Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi registering a dominant victory, beating his brother Sheikh Abdullah by a mar-gin of three minutes and 5.3 sec-onds. Rally enthusiasts in Oman too will get a chance to watch Sheikh Khalid’s heroics as he has confi rmed his participation in the rally, leading a six-car team from the Abu Dhabi Racing.

At present, the MERC consists of six events — Qatar International Rally, Kuwait International Rally, Jordan Rally Middle East, Rally of Lebanon, The Cyprus Rally and Dubai International Rally — and is widely considered as one of the

competitive rallies in the World.The International Automobile

Federation (Fia) will thoroughly an-alyse the report from its observers before taking a fi nal call on expand-ing the MERC calendar. ‘’I hope that all the three events will make it to the MERC, taking the total number of rallies to nine from next year.’’

According to Shaban, Fia would give the nod only if the rally is con-ducted in a safe environment. ‘’Fia would look into the safety of the event. All other topics like docu-mentation, media, to name a few, can be fi xed at a later stage. But the federation will not allow to tamper with safety aspects.’’

So the organisers should ensure safety of the competitors, specta-tors, media persons and marshals inside the track and formulate a good plan for emergency vehicle movement. “Apart from adequate number of ambulances, police personnel and fi re fi ghters, the or-ganisers should fi x easy exit routes to ensure free vehicle movement in case of accidents,” Shaban ex-plained the safety regulations.

According to him, the Fia ob-servers will keenly look into the issue. “The rally should be chal-lenging at the same time, we have to organise it in a safe manner.”

Shaban believed OAA would not fi nd it diffi cult to ensure safety thanks to the presence of motor-sports enthusiasts, who came for-ward to off er their services for the three-day rally.

Oman International

Rally is one of the

three candidate events

that aim to make it

to the Middle East

Rally Championship

calendar next year

Drivers would realise

the uniqueness of the

track from the first day

itself. The rally is going

to be a huge success

Hani ShabanClerk of the Course

UNIQUE COURSE

Oman to face Thailand in AHF Cup openerT.K. [email protected]

MUSCAT: Oman has confi rmed participation in the forthcom-ing Men’s Junior Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) Cup, sources at the Oman Hockey Association (OHA) said yesterday.

The fourth edition of the jun-ior Asian event will be held at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Sta-dium in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from November 30.

It is learnt that the round-robin tournament acts as a qualifi er for the Junior Asian Cup champion-ship to be held in China.

Five teams are taking part in the November 30-December 7 tournament and Oman, who have won the inaugural tournament hosted by Muscat, looks good to fi nish among the top two teams.

Oman has become a force to reckon with in hockey lately and their seventh-place fi nish in Asian Games was ample proof of their improving standards under the guidance of German coach Oliver Kurtz.

The fi ve teams in fray are Oman, Bangladesh, Chinese-Tai-pei, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Oman open campaign against Thailand on December 1 followed by a match against Sri Lanka on December 3. Oman’s tough fi x-ture will be against hosts Bang-ladesh on December 4. The hosts, meanwhile, will be coming into the match against Oman after a two-day rest. Oman’s last match will be against Chinese-Taipei on December 6 with the fi nal sched-uled for December 7.

OHA General Secretary Mo-hammed Ridha Al Lawati con-fi rming Oman’s participation said preparations for the under-21 tournament will begin soon.

Revealing more on Oman’s preparations, OHA’s technical advisor Mohie Saad Al Zaghlool said: “Coach Kurtz has been working on building up a team for the tournament and we will

fi nalise a well-balanced team by mid-November.”

Mohie Saad detailed: “The na-tional coach will be monitoring the matches of the youth hockey league before fi nalising the team. An internal camp will be held in Muscat before departing for Dha-ka few days in advance.”

He said OHA sent out feelers for playing friendly or warm-up matches prior to the tournament. “I hope we will play a couple of games before we face Thailand in the opening match.”

Meanwhile, hockey consult-ant Saiyed Sibtain Ali Al Naqvi revealed that OHA will be rep-resented by two offi cials at the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Congress to be held at Mar-rakesh, Morocco from October 29 to November 2. OHA will be represented by Zohair Moham-med Darwish Al Ajmi and Anwar Ahmed Amer Bait Fadhil.

Junior AHF Cup schedule:November 30: Sri Lanka vs

Chinese-Taipei; Bangladesh vs Thailand; December 1: Oman vs Thailand; Bangladesh vs Chinese-Taipei; December 2: Rest Day; December 3: Chinese-Taipei vs Thailand; Oman vs Sri Lanka; December 4: Thailand vs Sri Lanka; Oman vs Bangladesh; December 5: Rest Day; Decem-ber 6: Oman vs Chinese-Taipei; Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka; De-cember 7: 3rd placed team play 4th placed team; Top two teams play in the fi nal.

U N D E R - 2 1 H O C K E Y

PREPARATIONS ON: OHA tech-

nical adviser Mohie Zaghlool.

Sri Lanka not properly prepared for India tour: Mathews

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka cricket captain Angelo Mathews said Sunday his team did not have suffi cient time to prepare for the One-Day International (ODI) series in India, starting Nov 2, when they agreed to fi ll the void in the calendar after the West Indies players abandoned their India tour due to a payment dis-pute with their board.

“The preparation for the se-ries is not that great. We only had a few practice sessions, es-pecially with the weather inter-rupting. It is not the ideal prepa-ration for an Indian tour but we will do our best to prepare our-selves and take it as it comes,” Mathews was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Sri Lankan players were in the middle of a break when they were called up to play a fi ve-match series after their board agreed to Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) re-quest to play in India.

“We had a good break to im-prove our physical fi tness and now we have to maintain that. I am sure during the Indian matches we won’t be able to do strenuous training as we did in the past one and a half months but we will try and maintain it and look at it positively,” the 27-year-old said.

“We were preparing for the England series because we knew that there weren’t any tours coming before that. We were focused a lot on fi tness and just started batting three days ago.” — IANS

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Five-star Babar, Shah demolish Australia

DUBAI: Zulfi qar Babar took a maiden fi ve-wicket haul and fel-low leg-spinner Yasir Shah took four as Pakistan humiliated Aus-tralia by 221 runs in the fi rst Test, here yesterday.

Babar fi nished with 5-74 in only his third Test, while debutant Shah took 4-50 to dismiss a reso-lute Australia for 216 in their sec-ond innings and give Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.

Pakistan, who set Australia a 438-run target, were left frustrat-ed as Mitchell Johnson (61) and Steven Smith (55) fought hard be-fore they succumbed in a tantalis-ing fi nish with just 21.5 overs left in the day.

Pakistan will now hope they either win or avoid defeat in the

second Test in Abu Dhabi, starting October 30, to clinch their fi rst se-ries win over Australia since 1994.

This was Australia’s ninth defeat in Asia in the last 14 Tests, hav-ing lost eight to India since 2008. Their only win came in Sri Lanka in 2011 with four draws as they fell to South Asia’s specialist spinners. Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul Haq was jubilant after the match.

“This win was very much need-ed as we were struggling in the last few series,” said Misbah. “We were determined to overcome the 3-0 one-day series loss against Australia and everyone did well.”

Australian captain Michael Clarke gave credit to their oppo-nents. “Credit to Pakistan,” said Clarke. “We didn’t bat well and

now have couple of days to turn it around in the second Test and I’m sure you will see a diff erent team in the next Test.”

Babar dismissed number ten Peter Siddle, caught bat-pad in the 92nd over, to seal the victory as Pakistani fi elders removed the stumps even before the Australian review was turned down.

The defeat looked inevitable with Australia reeling at 117-7 at lunch but Smith and Johnson de-fi ed the spinners during their 65-run stand for the eighth wicket.

Babar threatened to dismiss Smith twice but Sarfarza missed a stumping with the batsman on 37 and Misbah-ul Haq failed to pick a diffi cult chance at 44.

Frustrated Babar also saw Ahmed Shehzad drop Johnson at deep square leg on 23 and two runs later by Yasir Shah as both the batsmen frustrated the Pakistani attack.

Smith hit Shah for his third four to reach his seventh half-century but fell fi ve runs later, caught at

short-leg. Smith resisted for 175 balls. It was Babar who struck twice before lunch to bring Paki-stan closer to victory.

Australia had resumed on 59-4 but Chris Rogers (43) and Smith added 32 in the fi rst hour before paceman Imran Khan made the breakthrough, bowling Rogers who played over the delivery.

Babar then came into his own, removing Mitchell Marsh (three) with a turning delivery. The edge was well taken at short cover by Azhar Ali. Four overs later, Babar spun one across Brad Haddin’s forward push to hit the stumps and dismiss the wicketkeeper for a duck as Australia lost their sev-enth wicket for 105.

Johnson smashed Babar for his fi fth boundary to reach ninth half-century off 104 balls. In all he hit six fours and one six during his 163-minute fi ght. Babar’s previ-ous best fi gures were 3-89 against South Africa in his debut Test in Abu Dhabi last year.

Australia’s top order, including Clarke, had fl opped on the fourth evening, with Babar and leg-spinner Yasir Shah causing the damage. — AFP

Babar fi nished with 5-74 in only his third

Test, while debutant Shah took 4-50 to

dismiss a resolute Australia for 216

CHIEF WRECKER: Zulfi qar Babar.

Pakistan 1st innings: 454 (Sarfraz Ahmed 109, Younis Khan 106, Asad Shafi q 89, Misbah-ul Haq 69, Azhar Ali 53; M. Johnson 3-39) Australia 1st innings: 303 (D. Warner 138, C. Rogers 38; Yasir Shah 3-66, Rahat Ali 2-55, Zulfi qar Babar 2-81) Pakistan 2nd innings: 286-2 dec (Ahmed Shehzad 131, Younis Khan 103 not out; S. O’Keefe 2-112) Australia 2nd innings:C. Rogers b Khan 43 D. Warner st Ahmed b Babar 29 A. Doolan lbw b Babar 0 M. Clarke lbw b Shah 3 N. Lyon lbw b Shah 0 S. Smith c Shafi q b Shah 55 M. Marsh c Ali b Babar 3

B. Haddin b Babar 0 M. Johnson st Ahmed b Shah 61 P. Siddle c Azhar b Babar 15 S. O’Keefe not out 0 Extras: (b-4, lb-1, nb-2) 7 Total: (all out; 91.1 overs) 216 Fall of wickets: 1-44 (Warner), 2-44 (Doolan), 3-49 (Clarke), 4-49 (Lyon), 5-92 (Rogers), 6-101 (Marsh), 7-105 (Haddin), 8-170 (Smith), 9-213 (Johnson) Bowling: Khan 7-2-22-1, Rahat 13-4-36-0, Hafeez 15-4-29-0, Babar 31.1-7-74-5, Shah 25-6-50-4 Result: Pakistan won by 221 runs Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (ENG) and Marais Erasmus (RSA) TV umpire: Nigel Llong (ENG) Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)

S C O R E B O A R D

The transformation of the creepy, crawly cater-pillar into the bright,

beautiful butterfl y in just a few days is both a mystery and a miracle, but those who gathered the chrysalis in the era before youtube and waited for the mo-ment of miracle to unfold would admit how painfully anxious were the days of waiting and how rare and delightful was the experience if ever they got to see one emerge from the cocoon in the end. I had never been lucky to see it happen in real life in my younger days, but I think now is my turn to behold the beauty of a process just as exciting: the metamorphosis of Virat Kohli the brash and bullish into a noble, sober soul that fl oats like a butterfl y and stings like a bee.

Before what looked like a temporary loss of form that set off in the 2014 IPL morphed into a monstrous patch that extended up to and a bit beyond the disas-trous England tour, Kohli was what a 22-year-old Muhammad Ali had famously called himself in the build-up to the historic bout with Sonny Liston: a butter-fl y that fl oated charmingly and a bee that stung viciously.

We knew it was only a mat-ter of a brief time before Kohli rediscovered his silken touch, which ultimately he did in Delhi this month against the West Indies. Though he had to give up his normal slot in Delhi, he was back and blooming in his favourite No.3 slot in the next match played at Dharmasala. In between the IPL-England night-mare and the Delhi-Dharmasala relief a lot of things, overwhelm-ingly unpleasant, had happened, some of which will be too hard for Kohli to just sweep into some dark corner of his mind gleefully. He should not, in fact, especially the simple truth of life that every rise will have a fall.

The most signifi cant part of his brief post-match chat im-mediately after the Dharmasala match was that usual, simple philosophy of life cricketers would take shelter under the fi rst time after they got back in form after a period of struggle. When you read his “trying to stay as calm as possible and that’s what I’ve learnt in the last two months” comment along with the “I’ve seen a lot of people change, 360 degrees, ac-tually”, you get some idea about what he had been through. It

was disgusting, but such shocks often bring out the best in us.

Obviously, and understand-ably, Kohli was disturbed by his loss of form, and what might have hurt him most was the 360 degrees of change in the people around him, but isn’t that pretty much same about a lot of guys, including himself? If he could fi nd time to rerun footage of the 2014 World T20 fi nal, especially just after the game was over and players were shaking hands while waiting for the awards ceremony, he would know how many painful degrees he had swung when he whipped out his cell phone and pretended to be busy as a down and out Yuvraj, the villain of that infamous 11 off 21 balls that rocked the Indian boat, walked up to him, perhaps looking for a shoulder to cry on.

The fi rst piece of good news about Kohli soon after the Eng-land tour was his trip to Mumbai in mid-September to work out his game under the watchful eyes of Tendulkar. That was a wise move. Not because Ten-dulkar was the best man around to bring Kohli back in form. Not because there were serious kinks in Kohli’s technique that required the ‘god’s’ hand to iron out. But if ever there’s anyone who could impart indisput-able lessons in humility, and how much precious it’s in the interest of the self (Kohli) and the team, it’s that unassuming champion of cricket who tamed every bull, and a lot of bullshit, that came along his 22-year life between the 22 yards and quite beyond. The transformation of Kohli from a leader to the leader of the pack has begun. It’s only a matter of a brief time, maybe just after the World Cup, before he will be made the regular captain of the team, at least of the longer format. What team India need is not a bully who walks around with a stick and a caustic tongue, but a butterfly who floats around and in-spires the boys and stings the rivals from across the border like a bee.

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

C O M M E N T A R Y

PRASAD PANICKER

BEYOND THE BOUNDARY

To B or not to BBangladesh in frontDHAKA: Mushfi qur Rahim, Mohammad Mahmudullah and Mominul Haque scored half-centuries as Bangladesh gained a slender 14-run lead over Zim-babwe in the fi rst Test in Dhaka yesterday. The hosts, replying to Zimbabwe’s fi rst innings total of 240, were dismissed for 254 just before stumps on the second day

at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium. Zimbabwe were fi ve for no loss

in their second knock at close of play, needing a competitive to-tal to challenge Bangladesh on a wearing wicket. Skipper Mush-fi qur top-scored for Bangladesh with 64, Mahmudullah made 63 and Mominul chipped in with 53 in overcast conditions. — AFP

T E S T S E R I E S

Zimbabwe 1st innings: 240 (Sikandar Raza 51; Shakib Al Hasan 6-59) Bangladesh 1st innings:T. Iqbal c Masakadza b Panyangara 5 S. Rahman c Chigumbura b Panyangara 8 Mominul Haque run out 53 Mahmudullah lbw b Raza 63 Shakib Al Hasan run out 5 M. Rahim c Ervine b Panyangara 64 S. Hom c Chigumbura b Kamungozi 14 T. Islam b Panyangara 19 Shahadat Hossain run out 0 J. Hossain not out 7 Al Amin b Panyangara 9 Extras (lb-6, w-1) 7 Total (all out; 98 overs) 254 Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Tamim), 2-29 (Shamsur), 3-92 (Mominul), 4-114

(Shakib), 5-178 (Mahmudullah), 6-209 (Shuvagata), 7-226 (Mushfi qur), 8-226 (Shahadat), 9-244 (Taijul), 10-254 (Al-Amin) Bowling: Panyangara 23-5-59-5 (w1), Chatara 22-11-27-0, Chigumbura 14-6-34-0, Nyumbu 15-1-65-0, Kamungozi 21-5-51-1, Raza 3-0-12-1 Zimbabwe 2nd innings: V. Sibanda not out 5 R. Chakabva not out 0 Total (no loss) 5 Bowling: Shahadat 1-0-5-0, Shakib 1-1-0-0 Toss: Zimbabwe Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI), S. Ravi (IND) TV umpire: Billy Bowden (NZL) Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)

S C O R E B O A R D

Ogier takes his second world title

BARCELONA: France’s Se-bastien Ogier took his second successive world rally cham-pionship title for Volkswagen yesterday after winning the Rally of Spain. Ogier, who had led for most of the four-day event, beat Finnish team mate Jari-Matti Latvala by 11.3 seconds to retain the title with one round remaining.

The Frenchman, who be-came the eighth man to win multiple championship ti-tles and just the fi fth to claim back-to-back titles, now has 242 points to Latvala’s 211. The 30-year-old’s only dif-fi cult moment came when he was forced to drive 20km with a damaged tire but he held on to register the 23rd victory of his career. The win was Volkswagen’s 11th of the season. “It was my target at the start of the year to prove my title last year wasn’t a one-off and I’ve done it,” said Ogier. “I’m so happy.” — Reuters

R A L L Y

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SPORTSM O N DAY, O CTO B E R 2 7, 2 0 14

SINGAPORE: Sania Mirza and Cara Black reeled off 12 straight games to stun defending champions Hsieh Su-wei and Peng Shuai by the record score of 6-1, 6-0 in the WTA Finals doubles fi nal yesterday.

The Indian-Zimbabwean team, playing their last match together, lost the fi rst game against the fa-vourites but then put together

the phenomenal streak to lift the Martina Navratilova trophy in Singapore. It was the heaviest de-feat ever witnessed in the end-of-season competition’s doubles fi nal which dates back 41 years to 1973, the year the Women’s Tennis As-sociation (WTA) was founded.

And it sealed an amazing turn-around after Black and Mirza

saved four match points en route to the fi nal, including three in their semifi nal against Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik.

With just under an hour played, Black sealed the title with an over-head through the centre of the court and then turned to embrace Mirza, who will partner Hsieh next season as both pairs split.

“When we won that fi rst match, honestly we were both almost were like, ‘Okay, maybe that’s a sign. Maybe we’re going to win it,’” Mirza told reporters. “It was great—we saved the best for the last. I think today was our best match. One of our best matches at least, and one of our best matches we played against them.” — AFP

W T A F I N A L S

Mirza, Black stun title favourites

CHAMPIONS: Cara Black of Zimbabwe, right, and Sania Mirza of

India hold the Martina Navratilova Trophy. – AFP

Queen Williams rules

SINGAPORE: Serena Williams destroyed Romania’s Simona Halep 6-3, 6-0 yesterday to win the WTA Finals championship in Singapore, proving once again why she remains the most formi-dable force in women’s tennis.

Williams avenged her “embar-rassing” loss to Halep in the group stage of the season-ending tour-nament with a ruthless display, overpowering her pint-sized op-ponent at every opportunity.

Halep shocked Williams 6-0, 6-2 in the group stage of the elite event but was unable to repeat that performance as the Ameri-can reminded everyone why she is the number one player in the world.

“I lost to her a couple of days ago so I knew she was capable of playing well,” Williams said in a courtside interview. “She started well and I knew I had to play well

to beat her and I did play well.” For Williams, it was her third

successive win in the WTA Finals, second only in prestige to the four grand slams, and her fi fth overall, tied for second with Steffi Graf.

Only Martina Navratilova, with eight titles, has won more, but with Williams showing no signs of slowing down at the age of 33, it is not inconceivable the American could overhaul her.

The odds were stacked against Williams winning in Singapore after she pulled out of two events in China because of a knee in-jury then lost to Halep in the group stages.

But, as she has shown time and time again throughout her il-

lustrious career, Williams has a knack for raising her game when it matters, as Halep learnt the hard way at Singapore’s National Indoor Stadium.

“It was an amazing week for me so I cannot be sad that I lost,” said Halep. “Congratulations to Ser-ena - you are the best.”

Just as she did in their previous encounter, Halep made a confi -dent start, holding her fi rst ser-vice game to love and putting Wil-liams under early pressure.

She broke Williams’ second service game to lead 2-1 but failed to consolidate her early advantage as the American responded by taking her game up a notch.

Williams thumped two fore-

hands past Halep to set up her fi rst break point then levelled the scores at 2-2 when the Romanian dumped a forehand into the net.

Staring down Halep with each point she won, a fi red-up Wil-liams quickly began to assert her authority, and broke her opponent again to lead 4-2 when Halep hit a backhand long.

A lapse in concentration cost Williams the next game as succes-sive double-faults allowed Halep to break back but those mistakes only spurred her on and she pro-ceeded to reel off the fi nal eight games in a row.

She blasted successive aces, the fi rst at 161km/h then the next at 194km/h, to clinch the open-ing set then showed no mercy in the second, out muscling her opponent with her power-ful serves, ground strokes and overhead smashes.

Halep wonly seven points in the entire second set, that lasted just 25 minutes, before Williams sealed her win with her 26th win-ner and raised her arms in tri-umph as she captured her 64th career title and just over $2 mil-lion in prize money.

“I just said to myself that I had nothing to lose...and once I re-laxed, I started playing better,” Williams said.

“I really didn’t expect this. I just started training because I had such a bad knee in Beijing and I didn’t even know if I would be here.” — Reuters

Serena Williams

clinches third WTA

title in a row; Halep

gracious in defeat,

tells Serena:

‘you are the best’

TOP HONOUR: Serena Williams of the U.S, right, poses with the

trophy after defeating Simona Halep of Romania. – Reuters

Federer wins sixth Basel titleBASEL: Roger Federer added a sixth title to his success story at the Swiss Indoors with the top seed crushing David Goffi n 6-2, 6-2 in yesterday’s fi nal. The suc-cess in only 51 minutes lifts the 33-year-old Federer in his bid to end the season on the world number one ranking. Federer was playing in his 11th fi nal and has now beaten Belgian Goffi n in both of their meetings. Federer won his 82nd career title and third from his last four tournaments.

Since August, he has lifted tro-phies in Cincinnati and Shanghai as well as Basel while reaching the US Open semifi nals. Federer will carry on next week to end the ATP regular season at Paris Masters, then plays the year-end Finals be-fore leading Switzerland into the Davis Cup fi nal in France. — AFP

T E N N I S

SO SWEET: Roger Federer kisses the trophy after winning his fi nal

match against David Goffi n at the Swiss Indoors. – Reuters

Srinivasan refuses to comment

KOLKATA: Even as a livid BCCI has decided to initiate legal proceedings against the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for abruptly cancelling its tour of India, its sidelined chief and ICC chairman N. Srin-ivasan refused to comment.

“I am not the BCCI president. So I cannot comment on the is-sue,” Srinivasan told media per-sons on the sidelines of a pro-gramme here. Citing the matter as sub judice, he also refused to comment on the Indian Premier League (IPL) spot-fi xing issue in which his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan is allegedly involved.

Srinivasan faced the pos-ers days after the International Cricket Council (ICC) admit-ted it “does not have the power to intervene” in the dispute be-tween the BCCI and WICB.

Srinivasan, along with wife Chitra, was in the city to inau-gurate the centenary building of ‘The Refuge’, a 113-year-old orphanage. — IANS

B C C I - W I C B R O W

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ISD boys, ISM girls triumph at CBSE Oman Cluster meetMUSCAT: The Indian School Dar-sait (ISD) boys and Indian School Muscat (ISM) girls emerged the champions at the Under-19 CBSE Oman Cluster Basketball Cham-pionships organised by the Indian School Al Seeb at the Ministry of Sports Aff airs’ Al Amal Club.

Mathew Abraham, Educational Advisor, Board of Directors of the Indian Schools in Oman, declared tournament open during a col-ourful inaugural ceremony in the presence of guests of honour Dr. Alex C Joseph, Assistant Educa-tion Advisor, BoD of the Indian Schools in Oman, and R. S. Pa-

thyarch, the CBSE Observer for Cluster Games and Sports.

The two-day event attracted teams from 12 Indian schools. ISD boys defeated Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir (ISWK) 40-36 and defending champions ISM 45-44 en route to fi nal where they came up against Indian School Sohar. The ISD found their match in the summit classh but managed to edge Indian School Sohar for the title and a place in the CBCE Na-tionals to be held in India.

The girls tournament saw fi erce competition among ISM, Indian School Sohar, ISD and ISWK. But

ISM and ISWK made it to the fi nal where ISM emerge the champions.

Chief guest Khalifa Rashid Al Essai and guest of honour Ahmed bin Hassan Al Yahmadi, both Di-rectors at the Ministry of Sports Aff airs, handed over the trophies and medals during an impressive prize-giving ceremony.

School Principal Nagesh Kelkar thanked chief guest Khalifa Rashid Al Essai and guest of honour Ahmed bin Hassan Al Yahmadi, both Direc-tors at the Ministry of Sports Af-fairs, as well as School Management Committee President Biju Koshy for supporting the event.

B A S K E T B A L L

CHAMPIONS: Indian School Darsait team pose for a group photo along with the dignitaries after win-

ning the boys title at the CBSE Oman Cluster Basketball Championships. – Supplied photo

Anwar, Ismail to square off in Omani singles summit clashMUSCAT: Third seed Anwar Al Balushi will take on Ismail Al Suleimani of Nizwa Club in the fi -nal of the Omani singles at the Vil-leroy & Boch + Hansgrohe Open Ta-ble Tennis Tournament organised by the Indian Social Club Muscat.

Anwar qualifi ed for the summit clash after prevailing over Sami

Al Jabri of Fanja in the semifi nal. Sami kept Anwar on his toes with some brilliant all-round play and pulled back the third game after a tough challenge in the fi rsts two. Anwar, however, kept his compo-sure and took calculated risks and to win the next two games for a place in the fi nal. Anwar won 11-9,

12-10, 411, 111-6, 11-7 to dash the hopes of Sami Al Jabri.

Ismail Al Suleimani was stretched to the limit before seeing the back of fourth seed Al Khalil Al Brashdi in the second semifi nal. After a ding dong battle, the match went into the decider. Ismail raced to a 7-1 lead in the fi nal game when

Al Khalil reeled off the next fi ve points to narrow the diff erence. Is-mail made no further mistakes and won the game for fi nal scores of 12-14, 6-11, 11-5, 11-6, 10-12, 11-7, 11-6.

In the boys under-16 singles, Prakhar Pateriya defeated Sadiq Dohadwalla 11-7, 11-7, 11-9, P. Sai Sharan beat Yaser Mustafa 11-6,

11-1, 11-4, Parth Nakhale over-came Hridhay Natan 11-7, 11-7, 11-6, Murli Vaibhav defeated Harshvardhan Jog 11-8, 11-6, 11-5, Sai Prem posted a 11-4, 11-8, 11-2 win over Abdullah Saleh and Abhi-nav Parasa defeated Maaz Faizan 11-8, 11-6, 11-5.

In the second round of the same

event, top seed Kenneth Vaz won 11-4, 11-2, 11-8 against Prakhar Pa-teriya, second seed Armaan Satti-kar beat Abhinav Parasa 11-6, 11-3, 11-7, third seed Subash Pillai over-came Ronan Machado 10-12, 11-6, 11-6, 11-7 and fourth seed Yash Tanna cruised to a 11-3, 11-3, 11-6 victory over Mustafa Dohadwalla.

I S C T A B L E T E N N I S

Marquez roars to record-equalling winSEPANG: Newly crowned world champion Marc Marquez won a season record-equalling 12th Mo-toGP race with victory at the Ma-laysian Grand Prix yesterday.

The Spaniard, who clinched his second successive title in Japan two weeks ago, had a poor start from pole but clawed his way back to the front to fi nish nearly three seconds ahead of runner-up Val-entino Rossi.

Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo briefl y held the lead early but was reeled in to fi nish third, while Marquez’s Honda team mate Dani Pedrosa was forced to retire after crashing twice in his eight laps.

Marquez’s win equalled Aus-tralian Mick Doohan’s 12 race wins from 1997 and the 21-year-

old has the chance to claim the record outright with victory in the fi nal race at Valencia.

The win also sealed the con-structor’s title for Honda, their

21st in premier class racing. Marquez will head to Valencia

on 337 points, carrying a 62-point lead over Yamaha’s Italian great Rossi. Lorenzo remains third in the championship on 263 points ahead of Pedrosa.

German Stefan Bradl was fourth on a Honda, with Yamaha’s Briton Bradley Smith fi fth.

“I’m really happy with the race. The strongest opponent was the weather, it was really hot,” said Marquez. “I’ve equalled Mick Doohan’s record, with one race left maybe I can beat it!

“If I had a bad result here the pressure in Valencia would be more. But now I am free in Valen-cia and I can do well for my fans and just enjoy it.”

Spain’s Esteve Rabat wrapped up the Moto2 championship with a round to spare after fi nishing third behind winner Maverick Vinales. Rabat has an unassailable 37-point lead in the championship over sec-ond-placed Finn Mika Kallio, who fi nished runner-up at Sepang.

The Moto3 title will go down to the fi nal race at Valencia after Alex Marquez, the younger broth-er of Marc, saw his championship lead trimmed to 11 points.

Marquez could have sealed the title with a win at Sepang but could only manage fi fth place.

Australia’s Jack Miller, 20 points behind Marquez at the start of the day, fi nished second behind race winner Efren Vazquez, to close the gap to 11 points. — Reuters

M O T O G P

12TH WIN: Marc Marquez

Reinartz injured

BERLIN: Bayer Leverkusen will be without German inter-national Stefan Reinartz for the next three months after the de-fensive midfi elder fractured his eye socket against Schalke, the club said yesterday.

He suff ered the injury on Saturday after taking an elbow in the face from Schalke mid-fi elder Marco Hoeger during Leverkusen’s 1-0 win at the Bay Arena. - AFP

B U N D E S L I G A

Pune blank Goa 2-0, Kerala hold Kolkata

PUNE: FC Pune City registered their fi rst win of the Indian Super League (ISL) by beating FC Goa 2-0 in a group match at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Sta-dium here yesterday.

For the winning team, Kostas Katsouranis and David Trezeguet scored on either side of halftime to confi rm victory after leading 1-0 at halftime.

The win helped the home team, bottom-placed in the standings after their fi rst two matches with just a point to their name, rise to the fi fth spot with four points from three matches.

Their opponents, FC Goa, with their third loss in four matches, nosedived to the bottom of the

points table having only a point to their name.

In Kolkata, a depleted Atletico de Kolkata retained their place atop the points table with a 1-1 draw against Kerala Blasters, who claimed their fi rst point in the league. Taking the fi eld without their injured regular captain Luis Garcia, defender Denzil Franco, and suspended striker Fikru Lemessa, Kolkata went ahead through Baljit Sahni in the 22nd minute but Iain Hume levelled four minutes prior to halftime for the visitors in a colourless tie played at the Salt Lake Stadium.

Sahni drew fi rst blood follow-ing a fast counter-attack that saw Jofre Mateu essay a low

cross to stand-in skipper Borja Fernandez. The former Real Ma-drid player set up Sahni who un-leashed a fi rm shot into the net past Kerala Blasters goalkeeper David James.

The 30-year-old Hume latched on to a chance in the 41st minute to deny Kolkata their fourth win in fi ve matches.

The Scotland-born Canadian player failed to control the ball in his fi rst attempt but Milagres Gonsalves displayed fi ne refl exes to fl ick the ball back to Hume, who this time calmly placed home.

The two sides went into half time tied at 1-1 and they failed to alter the scoreline till the fi nal whistle. - IANS

Kostas Katsouranis

and David Trezeguet

scored on either side

of halftime in FC

Pune City’s 2-0 win

over FC Goa. Kerala

Blasters hold Atletico

de Kolkata 1-1EQUALISER: Kerala Blasters FC’s Iain Hume, right, celebrates after

scoring a goal against Atletico de Kolkata during an ISL match in

Kolkata yesterday. – PTI

C5

SPORTSM O N DAY, O CTO B E R 2 7, 2 0 14

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Ahmed, Abdulrahman and Ayman storm into OAB Open semifinals

TIMES NEWS SERVICE

MUSCAT: The Oman Tennis As-sociation’s eff orts to develop jun-ior talents by introducing mini tennis and by conducting monthly junior tournaments seems to be paying off with a number of Omani boys advancing to the semifi nal and quarterfi nal stages of the on-going Oman Arab Bank (OAB) Open Tennis Championship at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.

The mini tennis, the pet project of the governing body of the Sul-tanate tennis, is introduced for the fi rst time at the annual cham-pionship and it has seen as many as three Omani boys advancing to semifi nals of the mini tennis for 7-8 year-olds.

After tough round robin match-es, Ahmed Al Farsi overcame a battling Ahmed Esmat 10-7, 10-7 to be the fi rst Omani to reach the last-four stage.

Following Ahmed Al Farsi into the semifi nals are compatriots Ab-dulrahman Al Balushi and Ayman Al Busaidi. Abdulrahman fought back from a set down against Ma-hir Sampat before moving up with a 7-10, 10-3, 7-3 victory. Ayman

registered a straight sets 10-3, 10-1 win over Taglib Taher.

Praneeth Raj also made to the semifi nals after a 10-1, 10-3 victory over Ahmed Esmat.

The under-10 (unisex) event also saw two Omanis, Tanal Al

Riyami and Marwan Al Khanjari, reaching quarterfi nals with de-serving victories.

Tanal Al Riyami defeated Mo-hammed Al Barwani 9-1 and Mar-wan Al Khanjari accounted for Moaid Al Zadjali 9-1.

Emilio Del Olmo also moved into last eight with a 9-0 win over Sultan Al Jabri. Ribhav Singh ad-vanced with a 9-2 victory over Sai Adithya.

The local boys also found suc-cess in the under-14 competition reaching the quarterfi nals. Zaka-riya Al Suleimani made it to the last eight with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Avigyan Battacharya. Amaan Kazi went through with an easy 6-1, 6-1 victory against Vedanth Ram.

Ali Abdellatif fought his way into the last 16 of the same event with a 7-5, 2-6, 7-2 win over Jayin Singh. In the under-12 boys, Sh-lok Ali and Vivek Kolluru made to the quarterfi nals. Shlok outlasted

Daud Abordo 9-5 and Vivek out-played Ayvret Van Waveren 9-3.

In the men’s B singles, Ahmed Al Barwani booked his berth in the quarterfi nals with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Parshua Kothary and Moustafa Burham made through with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Abdulrah-man Al Hajri.

In the fi rst round of the same event, Mohamed Al Falahi de-feated Andres Echeverrie 6-2, 6-3, Abbas Haider beat Vincent Goosens 6-4, 6-3 and Nikhil Sam-pat was a 6-0, 6-1 winner against Leif Olsgaard.

The annual championship, one of the biggest events to be organ-ised by Oman Tennis Association with participation of 260 players in various categories, runs till No-vember 26 and is supported by one of country’s leading banks, Oman Arab Bank, as the title sponsored and co-sponsored by Omantel and Pocari Sweat.

The mini tennis, introduced for the fi rst

time at the annual championship, has

seen as many as three Omani boys

advancing to semifi nal stage

Talented Hamood Al Harthyshows the way to the futureMUSCAT: If ever there were a shining example of sport widen-ing the horizons for a young as-piring golfer you should look no further than 16 year old Hamood Salim Abdullah Al Harthy who will line up alongside the stars of the European Challenge Tour in this week’s National Bank of Oman (NBO) Golf Classic at Al Mouj Golf, The Wave.

Since working on his game to bring his handicap down to four, the likeable, totally focused Omani has barely stopped to take breath in his globe-trotting ex-ploits to gather experience and enjoy the thrill of playing interna-tional tournament golf.

Earlier this year Hamood trav-elled with his brother, Rashad, an 8-handicapper, and four other members of the Oman Junior National Squad, to a three-week summer golf camp in Sweden, at Volkswagen Golfarena, Hamstad, organised by the Oman Golf Com-mittee and supported by Volk-swagen Oman.

After putting into practice all he had learned in Sweden on his return to Muscat, he worked on his game under national team coach Marcus Casey before fl ying off in September to the 17th Asian Games at Incheon in South Korea to represent Oman, along with team captain Azzan Al Rumhy, Ali Hameed Al Saleh and Ahmed Ab-dullah Mohamed Al Bulushi.

Hamood scored a highly credit-able 85-91-84-84 in the Individ-ual event to fi nish in 70th place, which helped the Omani team to take 16th place in the Team event.

It was a daunting experience for any 16 year old but Azaan Al Rum-hy, who shot an opening round of 3-under par 69 and a second round 71, was greatly impressed with his young teammate, saying: “Hamood is a committed golfer who is determined to succeed in the game. We were up against some very good players from the Far East but Hamood showed a lot of maturity. He certainly wasn’t the least bit overawed.

“He put in a very good perfor-mance. It’s a great boost for the youngsters in general in Oman to see that Hamood has become such a good player in such a short period of time to earn his place in the Team. It’s a big incentive for up and coming young Omanis to follow in Hamood’s footsteps.”

Hamood has an old head on young shoulders and he is quick

to praise his national team col-leagues, saying: “It was a wonder-ful experience and a privilege to be representing Oman in the Asian Games. I really enjoy playing un-der that sort of pressure. It was a great help for me to be playing with Azzan and Ali Hameed. They have given me a lot of confi dence, support and tips, which is helping me to steadily improve my game.

“I can’t thank them enough for all they, and coach Marcus Ca-sey, have done for me. It’s great that all three team members will be playing in the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic together. It was an honour to receive a spon-sor’s invite to play in the Europe-an Challenge Tour event and I’m very grateful to National Bank of Oman. I’ve played Almouj a num-ber of times, occasionally with Azzan, and it’s a wonderful golf course. With Azzan, Ali Hameed and Marcus behind me I’m hop-ing to repay everyone’s faith in me and put in a good performance.”

Marcus Casey is also delighted with Hamood’s progress. “Hamood has put in a lot of hard work over the past 12 months. It was very pleas-ing to see how well he played in Ko-rea. “I always knew he was capable of playing that well but it was still rewarding to see. He’s been gradu-ally working on his game and his performance in the Asian Games was very good indeed.”

Having practised in Sweden, represented Oman in Korea, Ha-mood is currently playing for the Oman national team with Azzan Al Rumhy in the Asia Pacifi c Golf Championship in Melbourne, Aus-tralia, returning at the beginning of the tournament week for the Na-tional Bank of Oman Golf Classic at Almouj Golf The Wave, Muscat, from October 30 to November 2.

Hamood is the future of golf in the Sultanate and it will be inter-esting to how he handles the chal-lenge of playing in a professional tournament with the stars of the future for The European Tour.

G O L F

FOCUSSED: CAction from a doubles match at the ongoing Oman

Arab Bank Open at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex. – Supplied photo

LIKEABLE LAD: Hamood Al Harthy

Malaysians ‘shocked’ over doping claims

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian badminton offi cials expressed “shock” yesterday in their fi rst response to doping allegations following reports that world number one Lee Chong Wei failed a test.

The offi cials refused to iden-tify the player, pending a second test, but local media has report-ed that the top shutter tested positive for a banned substance at the world championships in Denmark in late August.

“One of our athletes in one major tournament has been found positive,” Badminton As-sociation of Malaysia Deputy President Norza Zakaria said.

“We are very shocked, sad, and it is an earth-shattering news to us.”

Norza confi rmed that a sec-ond test would be conducted on November 4 or 5 after an ini-tial test found the banned sub-stance dexamethasone, an anti-infl ammatory drug. — AFP

B A D M I N T O N

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TR Engineering ease past OMC

MUSCAT: TR Engineering regis-tered a 69-run win against Oman Medical Complex (OMC) in a Raha Poly Products-sponsored D Division T20 league match played on Friday afternoon at the Minis-try Ground No. 1 at Al Amerat.

Opting to bat fi rst, TR Engineer-ing piled up 191 runs for the loss of fi ve wickets in their 20 stipulated overs. Major contributions came from skipper Javed Shaikh (55), Sajjad Ahmed (54) and opening batsman Sharad Kolhe (35).

Oman Medical Complex, in re-ply, were restricted to 122 for the loss of seven wickets at the end of

20 overs with Sibi batting at No. 3 staying unbeaten on 38. Tarique Khan took three for 18 while Zahir Dosani grabbed two for 18.

Brief scores: TR Engineering 191 for 5 in 20 overs (Javed Shaikh 55, Sajad Ahmed 54, Sharad Kolhe 35) bt Oman Medical Complex 122 for 7 in 20 overs (Sibi 38 n.o.; Tarique Khan 3/18, Zahir Dosani 2/18). Points: TR Engineering -2, Oman Medical Complex – Nil.

E&Y down FAP UTSCIn another Raha Poly Products-sponsored D Division T20 match played during the morning session at the Municipality Ground No. 1 at Al Amerat, Ernst & Young got the better of FAP UTSC by a mar-gin of 42 runs.

Batting fi rst, Ernst & Young scored 215 for fi ve wickets in 20 overs with valuable contributions coming from the top order bats-men. Omar Sarfraz, batting at No. 3, top scored with an unbeaten 81 while opening batsman Moham-med Nayaz scored 61 and his part-ner Vikram Verma hit 34 off 16 balls.

Shameer Kari picked up two wickets.

FAP UTSC got off to a solid start with openers Jaleel Mohammed (50) and Mohammed Ali (37) put-ting together 57 runs for the fi rst wicket in fi ve overs. With the exit

of the duo, the scoring rate dropped and they managed to reach 173 for six wickets. Mohammed Sheriff bat-ting at No.6 made an unbeaten 34.

Saud Haroon and Syed Osama picked up two wickets each.

Brief scores: Ernst & Young 215 for 5 in 20 overs (Omar Sarfraz 81 n.o., Mo-hammed Nayaz 61, Vikram Verma 34; Shameer Hari 2/38) bt FAP UTSC 173 for 6 in 20 overs (Jaleel Mohammed 50, M. Ali 37, M. Sheriff 34 n.o.; Saud Haroon 2/15, Syed Osama 2/34). Points: Ernst & Young - 2 (2 games, 2 pts), FAP UTSC - Nil (2 games, Nil).

Al Faisal Group winIn another D Division T20 match, Al Faisal Group trounced debutants Ooredoo by eight wickets.

Electing to bat fi rst, Ooredoo scored 139 for six in 20 overs thanks to valuable contributions from Mohammed Ali Akbar Al Balushi (52 not out) and opening batsman Rithwik Kadankot (45).

Gazanfar Iqbal grabbed two wick-ets conceding 18 runs in four overs.

Requiring a fraction of under seven runs per over, Al Faisal Group raced to 143 for two in 11.5 overs. Ihsan Mohammed top scored with a blistering 57 not out off 29 balls while opening batsman Gazanfar Iqbal made 38 and Abbas Ali Khan remained unbeaten on 25.

Brief scores: Ooredoo 139 for 6 in 20overs (Mohammed Ali Akbar Al Balushi 52 n.o., Rithwik Kadankot 45; Gazanfar Iqbal 2/18) lost to Al Faisal Group 143 for 2 in 11.5overs (Ihsan Mohammed 57 n.o., Gazanfar Iqbal 38, Abbas Ali Khan 25 n.o). Points: Al Faisal Group - 2; Ooredoo - Nil.

Deepak dazzles Opening the batting, Deepak Gakhar made a brilliant 63 off 38 balls and then went on to grab two wickets in three overs to help Ne-wrest Wacasco record a 55-run win against Oasis Water in a F Di-vision T20 match.

Opting to bat fi rst, newcomers Newrest Wacasco piled up 180 for seven wickets thanks to an open-ing partnership between Deepak and skipper Sandeep Rajan (29)

and Jaganathan T (38). Rohan Ku-rian and Shibin Padikkal bagged two wickets each.

Oasis Water in their turn were bowled out for 125 in 17 overs. Jag-anathan T. took two wickets.

Brief scores: Newrest Wacasco 180 for 7 in 20 overs (Deepak Gakhar 63, Jag-anathan T. 38, Sandeep Rajan 29; Rohan Kurian 2/29, Shibin Padikkal 2/34) bt Oa-sis Water 125 all out in 17 overs (Kannan Padmanabhan 38; Jaganathan T. 2/15, Deepak Gakhar 2/18). Points: Newrest Wacasco - 2, Oasis Water - Nil.

Professional Trading winIn a G Division T20 match, Pro-fessional Trading defeated Global Money Exchange by three wickets despite a brilliant all-round per-formance from the rival skipper Suraj Rao.

Deciding to bat fi rst, Global Money Exchange thanks to a brilliant unbeaten 77 by Suraj Rao, scored 141 for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs.

Professional Trading, in replay, managed to reach their target, scoring 145 for seven wickets, with a delivery to spare. Major contri-butions came from Rasik E.P. (39) and Prem Kumar N.P. (34).

Suraj Rao returned with fi gures of three for 40 in four overs.

Brief scores: Global Money Ex-

change 141 for 6 in 20 overs (Suraj Rao 77 n.o.) lost to Professional Trading 145 for 7 in 19.5overs (Rasik E.P. 39, Prem Kumar N.P. 34; Suraj Rao 3/40). Points: Professional Trading – 2, Global Money Exchange – Nil.

Gireesh lifts Prime TradingIn a H Division T20 match, skip-per Gireesh Nair (79 not out), led Prime Trading to a 14-run win against Rukun Al Yaqeen (RAY).

Prime Trading scored 185 for six wickets in 20 overs. Other useful contributors were Shiffi n S. (30) and Makhdoom Peer Mohammed (24).

Raghunath M. returned with fi g-ure of three for 15 in four overs.

In reply, RAY scored 171 for fi ve in 20 overs. Ragunath M. top scored with 61 not out while Mifas Mohammed (29 not out), open-ing batsman and skipper Kood-eswaran S. (26) and Rajesh Ayyavu (20) made major contributions.

Makhdoom Peer Mohammed and Mahesh P.S. claimed two wickets each.

Brief scores: Prime Trading 185 for 6 in 20 overs (Gireesh Nair 79 n.o., Shiffi n S. 30, Maqdoom Peer Mohd 24; Raghunath 3/15) bt RAY 171 for 5 in 20 overs (Raghu-nath M. 61 n.o., Mifas Mohd 29 n.o., Kood-eswaran 26, Rajesh Ayyavu 20; Makh-doom Peer Mohd 2/16, Mahesh P.S. 2/18 ). Points: Prime Trading – 2, RAY – Nil.

Opting to bat fi rst, TR

Engineering piled up

191 for fi ve wickets

in 20 overs before

restricting Oman

Medical Complex

to 122 for seven

WINNERS ALL: From left, Newrest Wacasco, Professional Trading and Prime Trading pose for group photos after their victories. Mohammed Nayaz and Omar Sarfaraz, right picture, of E&Y celebrate their win.

Ihsan Mohammed of Al Faisal

CHEERS XI CLINCH ICC CUPCheers XI defeated Indian Challengers Club (ICC) to clinch the title at the fourth ICC Cup

cricket tournament organised at the Ittin Ground in Salalah recently. In a well-contested

20 over-a-side fi nal, ICC batting fi rst managed to score 124 all out in 19 overs. Irfan took

fi ve wickets in his four overs. Cheers XI chased the target in 17.2 overs losing just four

wickets thanks to an unbeaten 47-run knock by captain Hameed and a well-compiled 42

from Shailesh. Irfan was adjudged the man of the fi nal. Cheers XI’s Shailesh and Noushad

were declared best batsman and best bowler respectively. ICC’s Harish bagged the player

of the tournament award. — Supplied photo

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COMSECTIONC M O N DAY, O CTO B E R 2 7, 2 0 14LIFE & STYLE

When your friends hit it off with your friends, it can suff use you with

a warm, caramel glow that tells you, “All is right with the world.” It’s as if your talent for tracking down the excellent and the last-ing in people is so fecund that two people in this talent’s awe-some path have suddenly been made pregnant. Group hug.

Alternatively, the experience can feel more like an unannounced cancer screening. Andrea Lavin-thal, who wrote Friend or Fren-emy? A Guide to the Friends You Need and the Ones You Don’t with Jessica Rozler before becoming People magazine’s beauty and style editor, said, “Most girls won’t admit this, but they’d rath-er you hit on their signifi cant other than their best friend.”

Lavinthal said she once in-vited a work colleague to join her and a friend for brunch. A few weeks later, Lavinthal stumbled onto the two women having din-ner together in a restaurant, and learned that they had been spending a lot of time together.

“There they were in the restau-rant, loving each other, probably talking about how I’m not funny enough or smart enough,” she said. “What do you say? On the surface, you can’t be mad. That makes you look like a crazy person. Are you going to insist that whenever they hang out, you be there? That’s weird. Are you going to bring it up and be bereft? That’s an interac-tion that’s so hard for girls. We’d rather cut our bangs again.”

The anxieties and etiquette quandaries that result from having your friends befriend your friends

seem particularly acute for wom-en; the software programmer and philanthropist Peter Norton said of the friendships that have sprung up around him: “These things don’t inspire any resentfulness on my part. Maybe occasionally a touch of wistfulness.”

But that doesn’t mean that women, with their ready stores of problem-solving skills and emo-tional acuity, are any better pre-pared to deal with these anxieties and quandaries.

Elena Ferrante’s series of partly autobiographical Neapolitan nov-els, considered by some critics to be the most powerful and nuanced view of female friendship ever written, contains many examples of friend-based jealousy, includ-ing a memorable scene in which our protagonist, Elena, worries about introducing her sultry and brilliant best friend, Lila, to Ele-na’s friend and mentor, Professor Galiani: “I was afraid that, what-ever she wore, her beauty would explode like a star and everyone would be eager to grab a fragment of it. I was afraid that (Galiani) would understand that I was only Lila’s pale shadow.”

The theme of social poaching is to reality television as diphthongs are to country music — on The Hills, the besties Lauren and Heidi fell out over a boy, and then Lau-ren stole Heidi’s friend Audrina; on The Real Housewives of New York City, Ramona invited Coun-tess LuAnn to dinner but not the friend who had introduced her to the royal personage.

Intriguingly, even those in-stances in which one person ac-tively midwives a relationship

between two of her pals can be bittersweet. A few months ago, the comedian Aparna Nancherla was the booker for an evening of comedy at the Ars Nova theatre in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen.

The anxiety about losingTo some minds, the wind-scarred landscape of wounded friends and their sulking is more noisome than it need be. Ronald Sharp, a professor of English at Vassar, who edited The Norton Book of Friendship with Eudora Welty, said: “The anxiety about social poaching stems from an inappropriate or distorted view of what friendship is. It views friendship as a zero-sum game, or as an attempt to maximise your resources. It converts the natural generosity of friend-ship into a kind of investment. The new term “friending, from Facebook: The very notion that relationships can be described nu-merically is a curious one.”

Sharp added, “If you can’t trust your friend to have a relationship with another person you consider a friend, it’s a clear symptom of a problem in your friendships.”

Lavinthal and Nancherla begged to diff er with Sharp’s latter point.

Lavinthal said: “You can’t as-sume a friendship is weak just because a girl’s feelings get hurt. My feelings get hurt 30 times a day. Also, if someone is a chronic poacher, that says more about her than about your friendship with her.”

Nancherla said: “It’s rare that I have a spark with another per-son right off the bat. So when it happens, it feels like some-

thing you should pursue. But it doesn’t reflect your relation-ship with the person you met the new friend through.”

The etiquette usually preached to people who are growing closer to a friend of a friend is tripartite. They are urged to broadcast but not fl aunt their actions with the second friend to the fi rst friend; to prohibit the second friendship from weakening or supplant-ing the fi rst friendship; and to refrain from injecting conver-sations with the second friend about the fi rst friend with the moniker Drunky McClownpants.

In the end, friendship preserva-tion, like good government or so-cial disease, is a two-way street. Sharp said: “Part of the burden is on the friendmaker to assure the insecure friend that every-thing is OK. But part of the bur-den should also be on the original friend not to be anxious about it.”

Indeed, forbearance may be humankind’s most undersung vir-tue; in the beauty pageant of life, the swimsuit portion of the even-ing has been replaced with by the look-the-other-way competition. In Lavinthal’s case, it paid off . She said of the two women whom she had introduced to each other over brunch: “They became bet-ter and better friends. It was weird for a while. But then some-how, organically, I got brought back into the fold. Their friend-ship cooled off a little bit, and we all found our way back.”

She added: “I feel like I’m the hot item again. They need me now. They need me to get back to the root of why they’re friends.” – Henry

Alford/The New York Times News Service

SOCIAL POACHING

F R I E N D O R F R E N E M Y ?

isney fi lms have been a seminal part of childhood for decades. From The Jungle Book and Cin-derella to Beauty and the Beast and Dumbo, these classic animat-ed stories based on folklore and fairy tales capture young imagi-nations and teach profound life lessons. They should, some would argue, be left alone for ever. Now, thanks to Hollywood’s refusal to take risks in its search for bank-able products, the next trend that is set to take hold of multiplexes will see Disney dipping into its past and reimagining its back catalogue in live-action form. The move has come about after two notable successes. The fi rst was Tim Burton’s take on Alice in Wonderland — a Disney animated feature released in 1951 and based on Lewis Carroll’s novel. Burton’s Alice came out in 2010, starred Johnny Depp and, despite mixed reviews, grossed a massive $1.02 billion worldwide. A sequel, di-rected by James Bobin (The Mup-pets, Muppets Most Wanted), is due out in 2016.

Next came an adaptation of Sleeping Beauty (1959), Malefi -cent, starring Angelina Jolie and released earlier this year. Ma-lefi cent, which tells the Sleeping Beauty story from the perspective of its antagonist, also garnered a mixed critical response — but to date has made $ 756 million at the box offi ce; the second-highest grossing fi lm of 2014 so far.

Inspired by the huge audiences these fi lms have attracted, Disney is gearing up to release a spate of similar fi lms — plucking char-acters from the comfort of col-ourful, innovative, hand-drawn worlds and placing them in a new, altogether unfamiliar reality. It should be noted that live-action remakes of Disney’s classic car-toons aren’t entirely new. The fi rst examples of such fi lms were 1996’s 101 Dalmatians, starring Glenn Close, Jeff Daniels, Joely Richardson and a whole load of dogs, and its sequel, from 2000, 102 Dalmatians, both of which were respectable box-offi ce fare. The avalanche is still to come. Set for release in March next year, Kenneth Branagh (Thor, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit) is direct-ing a reimagining of Cinderella (1950) — a project that Disney, inspired by the success of Alice in Wonderland, fi rst began develop-ing in 2010. Mark Romanek (One Hour Photo, Never Let Me Go) was originally slated to direct but quit due to creative diff erences, while the role of Cinderella was initially off ered to Emma Wat-son. She declined, and Downton Abbey’s Lily James will lead the show instead, with other nota-ble cast members including Cate Blanchett as Lady Tremaine and Helena Bonham Carter as the Fairy Godmother. There are also two planned remakes of The Jun-gle Book (1967), based on Rud-yard Kipling’s collection of short stories. One is being produced by Disney, the other by Warner Bros. Set for an October 2015 release, the Disney version is being di-rected by Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Chef ) and will combine live ac-tion with CGI animals. The ani-mals will be voiced by a cast that includes Bill Murray as Baloo,

Idris Elba as Shere Khan, Ben Kingsley as Bagheera, Scarlett Johansson as Kaa and Christo-pher Walken as King Louie. The Warner Bros fi lm — for some reason called Jungle Book: Ori-gins — will be released just over a year later. It will be Andy Serkis’ directorial debut, blending live action and, to create the animals, the performance capture tech-niques championed by Serkis in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, King Kong and recent Planet of the Apes fi lms. He will juggle di-recting duties and the role of Ba-loo. Benedict Cumberbatch will play Shere Khan, Christian Bale Bagheera and Cate Blanchett Kaa. King Louie — who did not feature in Kipling’s book (Disney added the fi re-hungry orang-utan to the animated fi lm) — will not make an appearance.

Disney and Warner Bros are both in the process of developing live-action Beauty and the Beast (1991) remakes as well. Bill Con-don (Twilight: Breaking Dawn — Part 1 and Part 2, Dreamgirls) has just signed up to direct Dis-ney’s eff ort, while Guillermo del Toro (Pacifi c Rim, Hellboy) has just left Warner Bros’ version, to which Emma Watson is current-ly attached. Also in the pipeline for Disney is Cruella. Similar to Malefi cent, this is expected to be a villain-centric story based on the fur-obsessed Cruella de Vil from 1961 animation 101 Dalma-tians and subsequent live-action remake and sequel. Not much is known about the project, al-though Glenn Close, who plays De Vil in those fi lms, is on board as an executive producer. There have also been reports of Dumbo, Disney’s 1941 animation about a baby circus elephant who can fl y, getting the live action treatment.

Other studios and production companies have shown signs of jumping on the bandwagon. Since Disney fi lms are mostly adapted from other sources, the subject material is fair game.— Patrick Grafton-Green/The Independent

C8

EXTRAM O N DAY, O C TO B E R 2 7, 2 0 1 4

Thanks to Hollywood’s

refusal to take risks in

its search for bankable

products, the next trend

that is set to take hold

of multiplexes will see

Disney dipping into

its past and reimagining

its back catalogue in

live-action form

Tim Burton’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’ grossed worldwide

KATE Moss said, “I was defi nitely living fast. I was working, travelling a lot, playing. I didn’t stop. It all became unbalanced.”

In yesterday’s column, we saw a deal in which a 4-4 fi t was worse than a 6-3 because there was an inevitable trump loser in the 4-4 fi t, but those losers could be discarded if it were a side suit.

Today’s deal is another example of one in which the unbalanced fi t works better than the balanced, but it is hard to recognise at the table.

After South opens one spade and North raises to two spades, it is tempting for South to rebid three hearts. Perhaps North has raised with three spades and fi ve (or six!) hearts. Here, North would surely raise to four hearts.

Whether South is in four spades or four hearts, West does best to lead his fourth-highest club, guaranteeing at least one honor in the suit (or a most unlikely singleton). East takes the trick as cheaply as possible and continues with his original fourth-highest club, which South ruff s. What happens after that?

In four spades, declarer continues with the diamond king. West wins and plays a third club. South ruff s, draws two rounds of trumps, cashes the diamond queen, ruff s the diamond three in the dummy, and plays on hearts. Declarer loses only one spade, one diamond and one club.

In four hearts, though, the continued club leads force declarer to ruff twice in his hand, which promotes West’s heart jack to a winner. The defenders take one trick in each suit for down one.

— By Phillip Alder

C9

ENTERTAINMENT

Another time to avoid the 4-4

B I G N A T E

B O R N L O S E R

M A R M A D U K E

A C E S O N B R I D G E

C I N E M A S C H E D U L E

K I D S P O T H E A L T H C A P S U L EC R O S S W O R D

Ans

wer

to p

revi

ous

puzz

le

WITH LOVE 9 3 2 5 6 8 7 1 3 8 5 1 7

2 1 5 6 7 1 7 6 3 6 3 1

8 2 4 7 8 5

5 6 4 8

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

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

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

Previous puzzle Solution

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

S U D O K U

M O N DAY, O CTO B E R 2 7, 2 0 14

Send us a colour photograph of the child (below 16 years) whose birthday you are

celebrating, along with his/her full name, date of birth, address, telephone number

and parents’/your name to Times of Oman, With Love, PO Box 770, PC 112, Ruwi

or through e-mail to [email protected]

29 Oomph30 Lacking fl avour31 “Hotel California”

group32 Poker card33 Quilt stuffi ng34 Geometry pioneer35 Fuse unit36 Parliament

members38 Husband of

Medea41 Kill a bill44 Egg — yung45 Ave. crossers46 “Snow” veggie48 Wind dir.50 Engine meas.

ACROSS 1 Botanist’s study 6 Happen11 Reacts to a pun12 Sister’s boy14 Mouth part15 Farewell17 Franklin D’s

cousin18 Sitcom ET19 Dawn deity20 Preferred shift21 Use an old phone23 Caramel-coloured24 Thwart a villain25 Intellectual27 Piggy bank coin28 Grand Teton st.29 Plunging neckline30 “— Street Blues”33 So what? (2 wds.)37 Like some lingerie38 Pickle39 Heavyweight

sport40 Birthday count41 Cauldron42 EMT’s skill43 Baseball assn.

44 Celebrations46 Implored47 Explorer

Hernando — —49 Not ours51 Faint52 Garden tool

DOWN 1 Romp 2 Vegetable sponge 3 Klutz 4 ER staff er 5 Happy — — clam 6 Leek cousin 7 Fair grades 8 PC “brain” 9 Conversation

fi ller10 Hang on to11 Alumni13 With dry humour16 Letter starter20 Grandee’s title22 Humble23 Way of Lao-tzu24 Nourishes26 Strong alkali27 Identify, slangily

BAHJA CINEMA

STARS CINEMA

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

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Film information 24791641 / 24786776

Fury (Action / War) Cast: Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman2:45, 7:00, 9:30 & 11:5pmCP No: 2125 (12+) Happy New Year (Action / Comedy) Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan12:15, 3:30, 7:00 & 10:30pm CP No: 2123 (PG) The Boxtrolls (Animation / Adventure / Comedy) Voice Overs: Ben Kingsley, Jared Harris, Nick Frost1:00 & 5:15pm

Happy New Year (Action / Comedy) Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan9:30pm at Cinema Main, 3:45 & 6:45pm at Cinema 3

Kaththi (Tamil) (Action)Cast: Vijay Chandrasekhar, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Neil Nitin Mukesh3:00 & 6:15 at Cinema Main, 9:30pm Cinema 2, 9:45pm Cinema 3, 9:45pm Cinema 4

Rajadhi Raja (Mal) (Act/Drama)Cast: Mammootty, Lakshmi Rai3:45 & 6:45 pm at Cinema 4Sapthama Sree Thaskaraha (Mal) (Act\Com)Cast: Prithvi Raj & Asif Ali3:30 & 6:30pm at Cinema 2NEXT CHANGE: Money Ratnam (Mal) Poojai (Tamil)

Happy New year (2D) (Action | Comedy) (PG12) Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan2:30, 4:00, 7:30 & 11:00 pm The Boxtrolls (3D) (Animation | Adventure) (PG) Voice Overs: Ben Kingsley, Jared Harris, Nick Frost2:00, 3:45pm Once in Life Time (2D) (Drama) (PG) Cast: Salem al amry, Ashref almsheky, Mubarak almasheny6:00pm Kite (2D) (Action | Drama) (15+) Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, India Eisley, Callan McAuliff e2:00, 7:30, 10:00, 11:45pm Left Behind (2D) (Action | Sci Fi) (PG12) Cast: Nicolas Cage, Lea Thompson, Cassi Thomson5:30 pm

Fury (2D) (Action | Drama) (15+) Cast: Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman7:30, 9:15, 11:45 pm

Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, India Eisley, Callan McAuliff e1:30 & 10:00 pm Fury (2D) (Action/Drama/War) (15+)Cast: Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman3:15, 7:30 & 11:45pmGold Class: 2:30 & 5:00pm The Boxtrolls (3D)(Animation/Adventure) (PG)Voice Overs: Ben Kingsley, Jared Harris, Nick Frost10:15am, 2:00 & 3:45pm Love, Roise (2D)(Drama/Mystery/Thriller) (18+)Cast: Lily Collins, Sam Clafl in, Art Parkinson5:30pm Left Behind (2D)(Action/Sci-Fi/Thriller) (PG12)Cast: Nicolas Cage, Lea Thompson, Cassi Thomson12:00pm

Happy New Year (Hindi) (2D)(Action/Comedy) (PG12)Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan10:00am, 7:30 & 11:00pmGold Class: 11:00am, 7:30 & 11:00pm Kite (2D) (Action/Drama) (15+)

Screen 1

Happy New Year (Hindi) (Action |Romance | Drama) (PG 12 ) Cast: Shahrukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Deepika Padukone3.30, 7.00, 10.30pm

Screen 2

Bang Bang (Action/ Romance ) (PG)Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif3.45, 6.45, 9.45

Left Behind – 2D (PG12) (Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller)Cast: Nicolas Cage, Lea Thompson7:15pm

Kite – 2D (15+) (Action | Drama) Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, India Eisley, Callan McAuliff e3.30 , 6.30 , 8.45 , 11.30 pm

Kaththi – 2D (T) (PG12) (Action)Cast: Vijay Chandrasekar, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Neil Nitin Mukesh8:30pm

Happy New Year – 2D (PG12) (Action | Comedy | Drama)Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan3.15 , 5.15 , 8.15 , 10.30pm

Fury – 2D (15+) (Action | Drama | War)Cast: Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman4.45 , 9.15, 11.45pm

The Boxtrolls – 3D (PG) (Animation | Adventure | Comedy)Voice Overs: Ben Kingsley, Jared Harris, Nick Frost 3:00 & 4:45pm

Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn – 2D (TBC) (Action | Adventure | Drama)Cast: Val Kilmer, Katherine McNamara,

Enemies Closer (Act | Thriller) (PG12)Cast: Tom Everett Scott, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Orlando Jones3:30, 6:45, 11:30 pmHappy New Year (Act | Com ) (PG 12)Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan12:30, 5:15, 8:15, 11:00 pmFury (Action | Drama | War) (15+)Cast: Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf,1:00, 3:45, 8:30, 11:45 pmLeft Behind ( Sci-Fi | Thriller) (PG12)Cast: Nicolas Cage, Lea Thompson, Cassi Thomson6:15 pmThe Boxtrolls - 3D (Animation ) (PG)Voice Overs: Ben Kingsley, Jared Harris, Nick Frost3:15, 5:00 pmKaththi (Action) (PG 12)Cast: Vijay Chandrasekar, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Neil Nitin Mukesh12:15, 8:30 pm

Happy New Year (Action |Drama | Comedy) (PG12) Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan7:00, 10:30pmKaththi (Tamil) (Action) (PG12) Cast: Vijay Chandrasekar, Samantha Ruth

The Boxtrolls (3D/PG) (Animation)Voice Overs: Ben Kingsley, Jared Harris10:45am, 12:30pmKite (2D/15+) (Action/Drama)Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, India Eisley2:15, 10:00, 11:45pmFury (2D/15+ (Action/Drama/War)Cast: Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf10:15am, 2:30, 9:15, 11:45pmThe Mule (Border Run) (2D/15+) (Crime)Cast: Sharon Stone, Promise LaMarco5:45pmTom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn (2D/PG) (Action/Adventure/Drama)Cast: Val Kilmer, Katherine McNamara 12:45, 7:30pmLove, Rosie (2D/18+) (Com/Romance)Cast: Lily Collins, Sam Clafl in5:00pmHappy New Year (2D/PG12) (Act)Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan10:45am, 2:15, 4:00, 7:30, 11:00pmKaththi (2D/PG12) (Action)Cast: Vijay Chandrasekhar, Samantha Ruth Prabhu; 7:00pm

Prabhu, Neil Nitin Mukesh8:30pmFury (Action | Drama | War) (15+) Cast: Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman4:30, 11:30 pmThe Boxtrolls (3D) (Animation | Adventure | Com) (PG)Voice Overs: Ben Kingsley, Jared Harris, Nick Frost5:00, 6:45 pm

Screen 3

Haider (Action | Drama) (18+ )Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Kay Kay Menon, Shraddha Kapoor3.45, 6.45, 9.45 pm

Jake T. Austin3.30 , 6.45 pm

The Berlin File – 2D (TBC) (Action | Drama | Thriller)Cast: Jung-woo Ha, Suk-kyu Han11:45 pm

ANISHKA AJU ABRAHAMOctober 27, 2009

SHAKIL SHAJI KHANOctober 27, 2004

ADHARSH SRINIVASANOctober 27, 2005

JONA ZACHARIA KURIANOctober 24, 2013

KESIA AJU ABRAHAMOctober 27, 2009

SIVARAMAKRISHNAN C. R.October 27, 2002

NUSAIR BIN MUNAWAROctober 27

PARTHIV PRADEEPOctober 27, 2005

C10

FIND-IT-ALLM O N DAY, O C TO B E R 2 7, 2 0 1 4

MONDAY

FLT NO ARRIVALS FROM ETA WY676 JEDDAH 0005WY682 RIYADH 0005WY636 ABU DHABI 0010WY924 SALALAH 0035WY632 ABU DHABI 0035BG021 DACCA-CHITTAGONG 01004H585 DACCA 0115TK776 ISTANBUL-BAHRAIN 0205GF560 BAHRAIN 0320EY384 ABU DHABI 0340QR1132 DOHA 0345EK866 DUBAI 0355MS930 CAIRO 0400WY674 JEDDAH 0640FZ041 DUBAI 06454H586 DOHA 0645WY638 ABU DHABI 0650WY658 BAHRAIN 0650WY902 SALALAH 0655WY668 DOHA 0700WY686 RIYADH 0705WY102 LONDON HEATHROW 0740WY602 DUBAI 0800FZ043 DUBAI 0800WY274 JAIPUR 0820WY202 BOMBAY 0825WY282 BANGALORE 0910WY346 ISLAM ABBAD 0915G9114 SHARJAH 0915WY236 HYDERABAD 0925WY242 DELHI 0925WY226 COCHIN 0930EK862 DUBAI 0930WY252 MADRAS 0930WY212 TRIVANDRUM 0935WY268 LUCKNOW 0935QR1128 DOHA 1000EY382 ABU DHABI 1010IX443 COCHIN 10309W530 TRIVANDRUM 1045WY604 DUBAI 1105G9841 RAS AL KHAIMA 1120WY342 LAHORE 1125WY372 COLOMBO 1130WY332 KATHMANDU 1130WY332 KATHMANDU 1130IX337 CALICUT 1155WY384 MALE 1200PA450 LAHORE 1215WY3912 SALALAH 1225WY904 SALALAH 1225WY3302 MUKHAIZNA 1230WY818 BANGKOK 1230WY826 KUALA LUMPUR 1245WY324 KARACHI 1300WY606 DUBAI 1330WY906 SALALAH 1425WY632 ABU DHABI 1435WY918 KHASAB 1440WY812 BANGKOK 1440FZ045 DUBAI 1545WY656 BAHRAIN 1600QR1126 DOHA 1605WY664 DOHA 1620WY204 BOMBAY 1645WY292 CALICUT 1710WY610 DUBAI 1715WY3304 MUKHAIZNA 1730WY3304 MUKHAIZNA 1730WY232 HYDERABAD 1740WY254 MADRAS 1740WY246 DELHI 1740GF564 BAHRAIN 1810G9116 SHARJAH 1915WY914 SALALAH 1930WY646 KUWAIT 2015WY614 DUBAI 2020WY434 TEHRAN 2040FZ047 DUBAI 2050AI977 BANGALORE-HYDERABAD 2105WY312 CHITTAGONG 21109W534 COCHIN 2115KL441 AMSTERDAM-DOHA 2115WY924 SALALAH 2125AI973 DELHI 21256.00E+81 BOMBAY 2130BA073 LONDON HEATHROW-ABU DHABI 2140WY624 DUBAI 2140QR1130 DOHA 2140UL205 COLOMBO 2155AI907 MADRAS 2200QR1134 DOHA 2225LH618 FRANKFURT-ABU DHABI 2235LX242 ZURICH-DUBAI 2235GF566 BAHRAIN 2240EY388 ABU DHABI 2245WY414 AMMAN 2300SG061 AHMEDABAD 2300WY908 SALALAH 2305AI985 AHMEDABAD-BOMBAY 23109W540 BOMBAY 2315WY662 DOHA 2340FZ049 DUBAI 2340WY662 DOHA 2340WY612 DUBAI 2345WY654 BAHRAIN 2345WY717 ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM 2345WY696 DAMMAM 2350WY406 CAIRO 2355WY648 KUWAIT 2355

TUESDAY

FLT NO ARRIVALS FROM ETA

WY676 JEDDAH 0005WY676 JEDDAH 0005WY682 RIYADH 0005WY636 ABU DHABI 0010WY3908 SALALAH 01004H585 DACCA 0115NL768 LAHORE 0130TK774 ISTANBUL 0135PK281 ISLAM ABBAD-SIALKOT 0155PK225 KARACHI 0200GF560 BAHRAIN 0320EY384 ABU DHABI 0340QR1132 DOHA 0345ET624 ADDIS ABABA 0350EK866 DUBAI 0355MS930 CAIRO 0410FZ041 DUBAI 0510WY324 KARACHI 0525WY658 BAHRAIN 0600WY412 AMMAN 0615WY122 MUNICH 0620WY674 JEDDAH 06404H586 DOHA 0645WY114 FRANKFURT 0650WY142 MALPENSA 0650WY154 ZURICH 0650WY902 SALALAH 0655WY668 DOHA 0700WY686 RIYADH 0705WY692 DAMMAM 0705WY644 KUWAIT 0720WY102 LONDON HEATHROW 0740WY132 PARIS 0745WY602 DUBAI 0800FZ043 DUBAI 0800WY422 BEIRUT 0820WY274 JAIPUR 0820WY202 BOMBAY 0825G9114 SHARJAH 0915WY242 DELHI 0925WY236 HYDERABAD 0925WY252 MADRAS 0930EK862 DUBAI 0930WY268 LUCKNOW 0935QR1128 DOHA 1000EY382 ABU DHABI 10109W530 TRIVANDRUM 1045WY3302 MUKHAIZNA 1045WY604 DUBAI 1100WY9304 MUKHAIZNA 1100G9841 RAS AL KHAIMA 1120IX337 CALICUT 1155WY312 CHITTAGONG 1155WY904 SALALAH 1225BG023 CHITTAGONG 1230PK191 GWADUR 1240WY632 ABU DHABI 1320IX817 MANGALORE-ABU DHABI 1325WY606 DUBAI 1330WY906 SALALAH 1425KU677 KUWAIT 1425WY3304 MUKHAIZNA 1445FZ045 DUBAI 1545WY656 BAHRAIN 1600WY328 LAHORE 1600QR1126 DOHA 1605WY204 BOMBAY 1645WY664 DOHA 1705WY292 CALICUT 1710WY610 DUBAI 1715WY224 COCHIN 1735WY216 TRIVANDRUM 1740WY232 HYDERABAD 1740WY246 DELHI 1740WY284 BANGALORE 1750GF564 BAHRAIN 1810WY338 KATHMANDU 1830WY6603 MUKHAIZNA 1845TG507 BANGKOK-KARACHI 1900SV534 RIYADH 1900WY3922 DUQUM OMAN 1900G9116 SHARJAH 1915WY346 ISLAM ABBAD 1925WY434 TEHRAN 1930WY614 DUBAI 2020FZ047 DUBAI 20509W534 COCHIN 2115WY254 MADRAS 2115AI973 DELHI 21256.00E+81 BOMBAY 2130BA073 LONDON HEATHROW-ABU DHABI 2140QR1130 DOHA 2140WY624 DUBAI 2140WY814 BANGKOK 2150UL205 COLOMBO 2155AI907 MADRAS 2200QR1134 DOHA 2225LX242 ZURICH-DUBAI 2235LH618 FRANKFURT-ABU DHABI 2235WY374 COLOMBO 2235GF566 BAHRAIN 2240WY916 SALALAH 2245EY388 ABU DHABI 2245WY908 SALALAH 2305AI985 AHMEDABAD-BOMBAY 23109W540 BOMBAY 2315WY654 BAHRAIN 2335FZ049 DUBAI 2340WY662 DOHA 2340WY816 BANGKOK 2340WY816 BANGKOK 2340WY612 DUBAI 2345WY717 ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM 2345WY696 DAMMAM 2350WY648 KUWAIT 2355WY406 CAIRO 2355

FLT NO DEPARTURES TO ETD BA072 ABU DHABI-LONDON HEATHROW 0001AI986 BOMBAY 00059W539 BOMBAY 0020FZ050 DUBAI 0045WY811 BANGKOK 0100WY251 MADRAS 0110WY201 BOMBAY 0115WY225 COCHIN 0120WY281 BANGALORE 0120WY211 TRIVANDRUM 0120WY685 RIYADH 0120WY371 COLOMBO 0145WY273 JAIPUR 0145WY267 LUCKNOW 0150WY235 HYDERABAD 0155WY601 DUBAI 0155WY901 SALALAH 0200WY657 BAHRAIN 02004H585 DOHA 0215WY637 ABU DHABI 0220WY241 DELHI 0225BG022 DACCA 0230WY345 ISLAM ABBAD 0230WY383 MALE 0235WY667 DOHA 0235WY341 LAHORE 0240TK777 BAHRAIN-ISTANBUL 0255EK867 DUBAI 0500MS931 CAIRO 0500QR1133 DOHA 0515EY385 ABU DHABI 0525FZ042 DUBAI 0730GF561 BAHRAIN 07454H586 DACCA 0745WY3911 SALALAH 0750WY3301 MUKHAIZNA 0800WY603 DUBAI 0800WY903 SALALAH 0830WY323 KARACHI 0840FZ044 DUBAI 0840WY253 MADRAS 0920WY291 CALICUT 0930WY815 BANGKOK 0940G9115 SHARJAH 0955WY231 HYDERABAD 1010WY905 SALALAH 1020WY203 BOMBAY 1025WY605 DUBAI 1030WY311 CHITTAGONG 1040WY245 DELHI 1040WY717 ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM 1045EK863 DUBAI 1045QR1129 DOHA 1100EY383 ABU DHABI 1110IX442 COCHIN 1125WY917 KHASAB 1140WY631 ABU DHABI 11409W533 COCHIN 1145WY655 BAHRAIN 1200G9842 RAS AL KHAIMA 1210WY663 DOHA 1230WY331 KATHMANDU 1235IX350 CALICUT 1255PA451 LAHORE 1315WY3303 MUKHAIZNA 1330WY413 AMMAN 1345WY153 ZURICH 1350WY131 PARIS 1350WY113 FRANKFURT 1355WY101 LONDON HEATHROW 1400WY609 DUBAI 1405WY121 MUNICH 1415WY405 CAIRO 1440WY433 TEHRAN 1440WY3921 DUQUM OMAN 1515WY645 KUWAIT 1520WY913 SALALAH 1525WY141 MALPENSA 1600FZ046 DUBAI 1630WY675 JEDDAH 1645WY613 DUBAI 1715WY923 SALALAH 1720QR1127 DOHA 1750WY623 DUBAI 1805WY915 SALALAH 1840WY681 RIYADH 1840WY647 KUWAIT 1850GF565 BAHRAIN 1855WY907 SALALAH 1900WY695 DAMMAM 1930WY653 BAHRAIN 1935WY661 DOHA 1950G9117 SHARJAH 1955WY611 DUBAI 2045WY3907 SALALAH 2100WY635 ABU DHABI 2120FZ048 DUBAI 2135AI978 HYDERABAD-BANGALORE 2200WY411 AMMAN 2210WY421 BEIRUT 22309W529 TRIVANDRUM 2230KL442 DOHA-AMSTERDAM 2230WY673 JEDDAH 2240QR1131 DOHA 22406.00E+82 BOMBAY 2245AI908 MADRAS 2300UL206 COLOMBO 2305AI974 DELHI 2310GF567 BAHRAIN 2325QR1135 DOHA 2330LX243 DUBAI-ZURICH 2335EY381 ABU DHABI 2345LH619 ABU DHABI-FRANKFURT 2355

FLT NO DEPARTURES TO ETD BA072 ABU DHABI-LONDON HEATHROW 0001AI986 BOMBAY 00059W539 BOMBAY 0020SG062 AHMEDABAD 0030FZ050 DUBAI 0045WY323 KARACHI 0105WY251 MADRAS 0110WY201 BOMBAY 0115WY685 RIYADH 0120WY311 CHITTAGONG 0125WY273 JAIPUR 0145WY267 LUCKNOW 0150WY235 HYDERABAD 0155WY601 DUBAI 0155WY657 BAHRAIN 0200WY901 SALALAH 0200WY643 KUWAIT 02104H585 DOHA 0215WY637 ABU DHABI 0220WY241 DELHI 0225NL769 LAHORE 0230TK775 ISTANBUL 0230WY667 DOHA 0235WY691 DAMMAM 0235PK230 LAHORE 0255PK282 SIALKOT 0255ET625 ADDIS ABABA 0450EK867 DUBAI 0500MS931 CAIRO 0510QR1133 DOHA 0515EY385 ABU DHABI 0525FZ042 DUBAI 0555WY3301 MUKHAIZNA 07154H586 DACCA 0745GF561 BAHRAIN 0745WY813 BANGKOK 0750WY603 DUBAI 0800WY903 SALALAH 0830FZ044 DUBAI 0840WY223 COCHIN 0900WY327 LAHORE 0920WY215 TRIVANDRUM 0920WY291 CALICUT 0930WY337 KATHMANDU 0930WY815 BANGKOK 0940WY823 KUALA LUMPUR 0950WY385 MALE 0955G9115 SHARJAH 0955WY283 BANGALORE 1000WY231 HYDERABAD 1010WY905 SALALAH 1020WY203 BOMBAY 1025WY631 ABU DHABI 1030WY605 DUBAI 1030WY245 DELHI 1040WY373 COLOMBO 1040WY717 ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM 1045EK863 DUBAI 1045QR1129 DOHA 1100EY383 ABU DHABI 1110WY3303 MUKHAIZNA 11159W533 COCHIN 1145WY655 BAHRAIN 1200G9842 RAS AL KHAIMA 1210WY345 ISLAM ABBAD 1255WY253 MADRAS 1255IX350 CALICUT 1255WY663 DOHA 1315PK192 GWADUR-TURBAT 1325WY433 TEHRAN 1330WY101 LONDON HEATHROW 1400BG024 CHITTAGONG 1400WY609 DUBAI 1405IX818 MANGALORE 1415WY405 CAIRO 1440WY3305 MUKHAIZNA 1515KU678 ABU DHABI-KUWAIT 1525FZ046 DUBAI 1630WY675 JEDDAH 1645WY613 DUBAI 1715WY913 SALALAH 1745QR1127 DOHA 1750WY623 DUBAI 1805WY915 SALALAH 1840WY681 RIYADH 1840WY647 KUWAIT 1850GF565 BAHRAIN 1855WY907 SALALAH 1900WY695 DAMMAM 1930WY653 BAHRAIN 1935WY661 DOHA 1950G9117 SHARJAH 1955SV535 RIYADH 2000TG508 KARACHI-BANGKOK 2005WY923 SALALAH 2030WY611 DUBAI 2045WY825 KUALA LUMPUR 2050WY635 ABU DHABI 2120FZ048 DUBAI 21359W529 TRIVANDRUM 2230QR1131 DOHA 2240WY673 JEDDAH 22406.00E+82 BOMBAY 2245WY671 MEDINA 2250AI908 MADRAS 2300UL206 COLOMBO 2305AI974 DELHI 2310GF567 BAHRAIN 2325QR1135 DOHA 2330LX243 DUBAI-ZURICH 2335EY381 ABU DHABI 2345LH619 ABU DHABI-FRANKFURT 2355

A I R L I N E S

PHARMACIESRound the clockAl Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi: 24783334; Appolo Medical Centre, Hamriya: 24782666; Muscat Pharmacy, Ruwi: 24702542, Salalah: 23291635; Atlas Pharmacy, Ghubra: 24503585; Ruwi 24811715Muscat Region Apollo, Al Hamriya. Tel: 24787766Muscat, A Seeb Market. Tel: 24421691Muscat, Al Khuwair. Tel: 24485740Muscat, Al Hail South. Tel: 24537080Dhofar RegionMuscat, Al Nahdha Road, Salalah. Tel: 23291635

HOSPITALSAl Amal Medical & Health Care Centre: 24485052Atlas Hospital: Ruwi: 24811743/ Ghubra: 24504000Al Musafi r Specialised Medical Clinic: 24706453Hatat Polyclinic LLC,Ruwi: 24563641, Azaiba: 24499269, Sohar: 2683006Al Raff ah Hospital: 24618900/1/2Al Massaraat Clinic & Laboratory: 24566435Al Makook Medical Coordinance Centre: 24499434Apollo Medical Centre, Hamriya: 24787766, 24787780Capital Polyclinic: 24707549Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi: 24799760/1/2Capital Clinic, Seeb: 24420740Ceregem National Raak: 24485633Dr Harub’s Clinic: 24563217Elixir Health Centre: 24565802Emirates Medical Centre: 246045401st Chiropractic Centre: 24472274Hamdan Hospital: 23212340International Medical Centre LLC: 24794501/2/3/4/5Kims Oman Hospital: 24760100

24 Hrs Emergency: 24760123Lama Polyclinic, Sohar: 26751128, MBD: 24799077, Al Khuwair: 24478818Magrabi Eye and Ear Hospital: 24568870Muscat Private Hospital: 24583600Welcare Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Al Khuwair: 24477666Al-Hayat Polyclinc LLC: 22004000

ROYAL OMAN POLICEEmergencies and inquiries: 9999General Directorate of Passport and Residence: 24569603Directorate General of Customs: 24521109Traffi c violations inquiries: 24510228Public Relations Admin: 24560099

ACCOMMODATIONAl Bahjah Hotel: 24424400Al Bustan Palace: 24764000 Al Khuwair Hotel Apartments: 24478171Al Madina Holiday Inn: 24596400Al Maha International Hotel: 24494949Al Fanar Hotel: 24712385Al Falaj Hotel: 24702311Al Qurum Resort: 24605945Azaiba Hotel Apartments: 24490979Beach Hotel: 24696601Bowshar Hotel: 24491105Coral Hotel Muscat: 24692121Crowne Plaza Muscat: 24660660Crystal Suites: 24826100Golden Tulip Seeb: 24510300Grand Hyatt Muscat: 24641234Haff a House Hotel: 24707207Hotel Muscat Holiday: 24487123InterContinental Muscat: 24680000Majan Continental Hotel: 24592900Marina Hotel: 24711711Midan Hotel Suites: 24499565Mina Hotel: 24711828Muttrah Hotel: 24798401

Nuzha Hotel Apartments: 24789199Oman Dive Centre: 24824240Park Inn: 24507888Qurum Beach House Hotel: 24564070Radisson Blu Hotel: 24487777Ramee Dream Resort Seeb: 24453399Ramee Guestline Hotel: 24564443Ruwi Hotel: 24704244Safeer Hotel Suites: 24691200Sheraton Oman Hotel: 24772772Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa: 24776666The Chedi Muscat: 24524400The Treasurebox Muscat Hotel: 24502570

AIRLINE OFFICESMuscat Airport Flight information (24 hours): 24519456/24519223Aerofl ot: 24704455, Air Arabia: 24700828, Air France: 24562153, Air India: 24799801, Air New Zealand: 24700732, Biman Bangladesh Airlines: 24701128, British Airways: 24568777, Cathay Pacifi c: 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

MUSEUMSBait Al Baranda: Corniche (seafront opp fi sh market), Open from Saturday to Thursday 9am to 1pm and 4 to 6pmNatural History Museum: Al Khuwair, Tel: 24604957, Open from Saturday to Wednesday: 8am to 1:30pm; Thursday: 9am to 1pmMuseum of Omani Heritage: (former Omani Museum), Madinat Al Alam, Sat-Wed 8am to 1:30pm, Thursday - 9am to 1pm, Tel: 24600946Armed 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 96550606/96550707Children’s Science Museum: Shatti Al Qurum, Tel: 24605368, Open from Saturday to Wednesday: 8am to 1:30pm, Thursday: 9am to 1pmOman-French Museum: near Muscat Police Station, Tel: 24736613, Open from Sat to Wed: 8am to 1:30pm, Thurs: 9am to 1pmBait Al Zubair, Muscat: Tel: 24736688, Al Saidiya St., [email protected] 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 1pmSohar Fort Museum: Tel: 26844758, Open from Saturday to Wed: 8 to 1:30pm Thurs: 9am to 1pmMuscat Gate Museum: at Al Bahri Road, Muscat open from Sat to Wed 8am to 2pm

PRAYER TIMINGS

W E A T H E R

Dhuhr 11.56am

Asr 3.12pm

Maghrib 5.37pm

Isha 6.48pm Fajr (Tomorrow) 4.54am

Sunset 5:32pm

Sunrise (Tomorrow) 6.10am

High tide 10:08am 11:28pm

Low tide 4:51pm 5:14am

OMAN

Max 34Min 23

Max 31Min 23

Max 31Min 23

Max 35Min 24

Max 34Min 23Max 34

Min 23

Max 36Min 21

Max 33 Min 23

Mainly clear skies over most of the Sultanate with existence of scattered clouds along the coastal areas of Al-Wusta and Dhofar governorates and chances of convective clouds development

over Al-Hajar mountains with isolated rain during afternoon. Chances of late night to early morning low level clouds along the coastal areas of Arabian Sea.EXPECTED WIND: Along the coastal areas of Oman Sea wind will be northeasterly light to moderate during day becoming variable light at night and northeasterly moderate over the coastal areas of Arabian Sea Coast and,

while over rest of the Sultanate it will be southeasterly light to moderate.SEA STATE: Moderate to rough along the coastal areas of Arabian Sea Coast, with maximum wave height of 3.0 metres and slight along the rest of Oman’s coast with maximum wave height of 1.25 metres.HORIZONTAL VISIBILITY: Good over most of the Sultanate.THE NEXT 48 HOURS OUTLOOK: Clear to partly cloudy skies with chances of isolated rain along the coasts of Al-Wusta and Dhofar governorates. Chances of convective clouds development with rain over Al-Hajar mountains during afternoon.

Max Min

GULFAbu Dhabi 34 24Doha 34 27Dubai 34 23Kuwait 34 20Manama 32 28Riyadh 35 22

WORLDAthens 17 13Baghdad 30 18Beijing 12 4Berlin 15 5Boston 13 5Cairo 28 20Colombo 30 25Frankfurt 16 3Hong Kong 28 23Istanbul 14 12Johannesburg 23 10Kuala Lumpur 32 25Lisbon 22 16Paris 18 8Perth 25 15Singapore 31 25Tokyo 25 11Toronto 11 9

WORLD

Max 15Min 12

Max 32Min 20

Max 18Min 12

Max 36Min 32

Max 24Min 16

Max 32Min 14

Max 4Min 0

Max 31Min 26

LONG DISTANCE BUS TIMINGS (OMAN NATIONAL TRANSPORT COMPANY SAOC) *SUBJECT TO CHANGE

QURIYAT - SUR - JAALAN (Route 36)Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 15:00 Quriyat 16:30 Daily15:00 Sur 18:00 Daily15:00 Jaalan 19:30 Daily

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (Route 36)Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 05:30 Sur 06:45 Daily05:30 Quriyat 08:30 Daily05:30 Ruwi 10:00 Daily

TO AL BURAIMI (Route 41)06:30 Sohar 08:50 Daily06:30 Buraimi 11:00 Daily08:00 Buraimi 14:30 Daily via Ibri13:00 Sohar 15:45 Daily13:00 Buraimi 17:40 Daily16.00 Sohar 18.35 Daily16.00 Buraimi 20:20 Daily

TO AL BURAIMI (Route 41)07:00 Sohar 08:55 Daily07:00 Ruwi 11:40 Daily13:30 Ruwi 20:20 Daily via Ibri13:00 Sohar 14:55 Daily13:00 Ruwi 17:40 Daily13:00 Sohar 19:20 Daily17:00 Ruwi 22:15 Daily

TO SINAW (Route 52)17:30 Sinaw 20:50 Daily

TO SINAW (Route 52)07:00 Ruwi 10:25 Daily

To Yanqul (Route 54)14:30 Nizwa 16:50 Daily14:30 Yanqul 19:30 Daily

To Yanqul (Route 54)06:00 Nizwa 08:40 Daily06:00 Ruwi 11:00 Daily

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (Route 54)08:00 Nizwa 10:20 Daily08:00 Al Araqi 12:30 Daily

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (Route 54)15:40 Nizwa 17:55 Daily15:40 Ruwi 20:20 Daily

TO SUR (Route 55)07:30 Sur 12:00 Daily14:30 Sur 18:45 Daily

TO SUR (Route 55)06:00 Ruwi 10:45 Daily14:30 Ruwi 19:00 Daily

TO FAHUD - YIBAL (Route 62)06:30 Fahud 10:30 Daily06:30 Yibal 11:15 Daily

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (Route 62)12:30 Fahud 13:15 Daily12:30 Ruwi 17:30 Daily

TO DUBAI (Route 201)06:00 Sohar 08:30 Daily06:00 Dubai 11:30 Daily13:00 Sohar 15:30 Wed,Thur13:00 Dubai 18:30 Wed,Thur15:00 Sohar 17:35 Daily15:00 Dubai 20:55 Daily

TO DUBAI (Route 201)07:30 Sohar 10:50 Daily07:30 Ruwi 13:40 Daily13:00 Sohar 16:15 Thur-Fri13:00 Ruwi 19:10 Thur-Fri15:30 Sohar 18:45 Daily15:30 Ruwi 21:35 Daily

TO MARMUL-SALALAH (Route 100)07:00 Salalah 20:00 Daily10:00 Marmul 20:30 Daily10:00 Salalah 23:30 Daily19:00 Salalah 07:40 Daily

TO SALALAH -MARMUL (Route 100)07:00 Ruwi 19:50 Daily10:00 Marmul 13:15 Daily10:00 Ruwi 22:30 Daily19:00 Ruwi 07:30 Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101)06:00 Marmul 16:50 Daily

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

TO MARMUL (Route 101)06:00 Marmul 16:30 Daily

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

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (Route 204)Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 07:00 Fujairah 11.45 Daily07:00 Sharjah 13.30 Daily07:00 Dubai 14.00 Daily

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (Route 204)Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 16:00 Sharjah 16:30 Daily16.00 Fujairah 18.15 Daily16.00 Ruwi 23.00 Daily

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI) TO MUSCAT (RUWI)

LISTINGS

—www.met.gov.om

BORN today, you are a rather secretive individual. At times, this is sure to make things harder for you than they have to be, as you will resist the need to share your troubles, trials and tribulations with those who could possibly help you through them. You tend to harbour all manner of feelings deep within, whether good or bad, and let them out only through bursts of creative activity. Indeed, though your feelings can be quite painful, they can result in a great deal of worthwhile productivity. Whether that productivity results in recognition and profit, however, is entirely up to you: If you pursue opportunities in a disciplined manner, you can surely succeed; if you don’t, success will be elusive.

Despite the fact that you keep your feelings very much to yourself, you share your opinions rather freely with the rest of the world — and you’re seldom without an opinion about any given topic! You can be rather quick to take sides when a controversial issue is being debated. Indeed, it is the controversy itself that excites you more often than not.

Also born on this date are: Sylvia Plath, writer and poet; Nanette Fabray, singer; Roy Lichtenstein, artist; Ruby Dee, actress and writer; Simon Le Bon, singer; John Cleese, actor and comedian; Theodore Roosevelt, US president; Dylan Thomas, poet.

You don’t want to knock yourself off balance with a knee-jerk reaction or any intentional behaviour that is ill-conceived. Use care!

VIRGO [AUG. 23-SEPT. 22]

LIBRA [SEPT. 23-OCT. 22] LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL[S[[[S[S[S[[S[SS[SSSS[S[[[[SSSSSSSSSS

SCORPIO [OCT. 23-NOV. 21] S[

SAGITTARIUS [NOV. 22-DEC. 21] S[[[[[[[[[[[[[[

AQUARIUS [JAN. 20-FEB. 18]

It’s a good day to spend money on something you have long considered. Binge spending, however, must be avoided.

You are not able to move forward until someone else gets out of your way — or decides to help you in a way that others cannot.

You don’t have to like a person in order to work well with him or her and produce something that can have a lasting, positive impact.

You may want to rethink your overall approach. Something you are doing is rubbing others the wrong way, perhaps.

That which is strangest is also likely to be the most believable to you. You can make a case for almost anything.

You can perform well at the drop of a hat. What you have to off er exceeds expectations and can be inspiring to those around you.

The time has come for you to set aside your old ways and adopt a course of action that can begin paying off right away.

PISCES [Feb. 19-March 20]

Even the slightest eff ort will be memorable in some way. The ripple eff ect will magnify the results in a way that really matters.

GEMINI [MAY 21-JUNE 20]

CANCER [JUNE 21-JULY 22]

LEO [JULY 23-AUG. 22]

CAPRICORN [DEC. 22-JAN 19]

Y O U R B I R T H D A Y

ARIES [March 21-APRIL 19]

TAURUS [APRIL 20-MAY 20]

The moment you’ve opened your mouth and the words have come out, you have reached the point at which backing out is not an option.

Listen to what your body is telling you. There are things that you need and things that you want — you can have some of both.

You’ve been waiting on the sidelines long enough. Today, you’re likely to encounter a situation that invites your direct participation.

C11

EXTRAM O N DAY, O CTO B E R 2 7, 2 0 14

For teens, family, school confl icts rub each other IF YOU think that the lives of adolescents at home and at school are quite separate, think again as a study has discovered that con-fl icts at home spill over to school and vice versa. Negative mood and psychological symptoms are important factors in the pro-cess, found the study by researchers at the University of Southern California in the US. The problems that spill over from home and school include arguments between teens and their parents, faring poorly in a quiz or test, missing classes, having diffi culty under-standing course work. “Spillover processes have been recognized but are not well understood,” said Adela C. Timmons, professor of psychology. “Evidence of spillover for as long as two days suggests that some teens get caught in a reverberating cycle of negative events,” added Adela. For the study, over hundred 13- to 17-year-olds and their parents were provided with questionnaires at the end of each day for a fortnight. All three family members reported on family confl ict during the day, and teenagers also reported on their mood and their school experiences on the same day.

Now take a ‘selfi e’ to cure skin

problems via dermatologist

IF YOU have a skin problem, taking a selfi e of the aff ected area and sending it to your dermatologist for analysis is a good idea. Accord-ing to a research, selfi es can help identify and cure skin problems, like eczema, without fuss, for patients who live in rural areas or those who have transportation problems. The study, led by April Arm-strong from the University of Colorado, Denver, in the US, included 156 adults and children with eczema: 78 received typical in-person, follow-up care, while 78 received online, follow-up care. The patients in the online care group sent photos of skin outbreaks to dermatolo-gists who evaluated the photos, made treatment recommendations and prescribed medications. After one year, clearance or near-clear-ance of eczema was achieved by almost 44 per cent of patients who received in-person care and more than 38 per cent of those who re-ceived online care only. “It shows that online dermatology services could help improve access to care at a time when there are not enough dermatologists to meet demand,” said Armstrong.

Diabetic mother may beget obese daughtersWOMEN who developed gestational diabetes and were over-weight before pregnancy were at a higher risk of begetting daugh-ters who became obese later in childhood, said a research. This is the fi rst study of this kind directly linking maternal hyperglyce-mia (high blood glucose) to overweight off spring. “Glucose levels during pregnancy, particularly gestational diabetes, were asso-ciated with the girls being overweight, and this association was much stronger if the mother was also overweight before pregnan-cy,” said Ai Kubo, epidemiologist at the Kaiser Permanente Divi-sion of Research in Oakland, California in the uS. The study is based on long-term research that included a multi-ethnic cohort of 421 girls and their mothers. The girls were followed from 2005 to 2011, with annual clinic visits to measure each girl’s height, weight, body fat, abdominal obesity, and other parameters, point-ed out the study that appeared in the journal Diabetes Care. —IANS

BR I E FS

Killer whales are often regarded as one of the ocean’s most in-telligent species and now for the fi rst time

marine biologists have been able to gain an even more in-depth insight into the lives of these creatures, by using drones. For the fi rst time ever, researchers from the Vancouver Aquarium and the US-based Na-tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have used UAV hexacopters to monitor groups of orcas that live off the west coast of North America, in a bid to safeguard their existence.

Of the whales to be moni-tored, these include the pro-tected Northern Resident killer

whales, as well as the endangered Southern Resident species.

Since the project began, there have been more than 60 fl ights and these have captured over 30,000 photographs and hours of amazing footage.

The photos and footage col-lected, have given scientists new perspectives on how whale pods live and it is hoped that these new insights can help in a bid to pro-tect killer whales numbers and support population recovery.

According to researcher Dr Barrett-Lennard, “the advantag-es of this kind of observation are immediately obvious. He said: ”We can determine much more about a whale’s health and con-

dition from above than we can from water surface level.“

One of the things that has ben-efi ted from the use of the drone has been in identifying pregnant whales. In just a few months, several whales have been iden-tifi ed as carrying young and this has been crucial in the calculating neonatal mortality rate.

Dr Barrett-Lennard, “Identify-

ing pregnancies, and then observ-ing the outcome and number of calves born will allow more preci-sion when calculating the neona-tal mortality rate.” The fact that whales can be viewed from so high up also means that pods can be viewed without disturbance from plane or boat engine noise.

This, according to researchers, has allowed observers to gain a far

truer idea of the everyday behav-iour killer whales.

”We saw fi sh chases, youngsters playing, a great deal of touching and social behaviour within fam-ily groups, killer whales and dol-phins swimming together peace-fully and much more. The bottom line is that the method worked wonderfully well.“

While this is the fi rst time

drones have been used to aid whale conservation, this method of monitoring is becoming in-creasingly popular in the animal conservation fi ght.

In recent times, drones have been used to in an eff ort to support rhino populations in Africa, while also being used as an important weapon in the fi ght against over fi shing. - Jack Simpson/The Independent

Drones used to monitor killer whales for the fi rst timeThe groundbreaking study has allowed

researchers to gain new insights into killer

whale behaviour and helps protect the

ocean’s most intelligent species

C12

EXTRAM O N DAY, O C TO B E R 2 7, 2 0 1 4

Sure, David Ayer, an ex-military guy from a military family, has succeeded to push down Steven Spiel-

berg’s Private Ryan.The $68 million worth Fury,

written and directed by Ayer is engaging and watchable, even as it marches toward a seemingly suicidal climax.

To set the stage, it’s April of 1945 — the last month of the War in Europe — and Hitler’s armies have been shattered on the western front.

As the Allies make their fi nal push in the European Theatre, a battle-hardened army sergeant

named Wardaddy (Brad Pitt) commands a Sherman tank and her fi ve-man crew on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. Shia LaBeouf, Jon Bernthal, Michael Pena and Logan Lerman play the rest of his US Army crew.

Outnumbered and outgunned, and with a rookie soldier thrust into their platoon, Wardaddy and his men face overwhelming odds in their heroic attempts to strike at the heart of Nazi Germany.

The plot is raw and the mood is brooding from start to fi nish.

It has shown that war is hell and a life at war is nasty.

Rain, muddy roads, tanks roll-ing over bodies, blood oozing out

of crushed bodies, trucks loaded with corpses of humans, bayo-nets in the eye, wiping bloody knives, bullets in the head, limbs blown apart and incinerate ter-rain, Ayer has presented the war as it should be.

Ayer has succeeded to put the viewer also into Pitt’s Sherman tank Fury.

In the style of Saving Private Ryan, there are no compromises in Fury. The gory details are just that gory.

And Fury is also not Patton which glorifi ed war.

Even though, Pitt dominates and leads Fury, watching Shia LaBeouf ’s performance can

make us forget Transformers.The fi nal, mind-blowing scene

features an eerie and revealing overhead shot of the crossroads, littered with dozens of dead bod-ies surrounding what appears for all intents and purposes to be a large crucifi x spanning the screen.

Fury is probably the best Hol-lywood WWII movie since Saving Private Ryan.

It is bold and intentionally up-setting. It has unrelenting battle scenes that will have you on the edge of your seat and more than slightly repulsed at the carnage.

Fury is a brutally basic war pic-ture and the best one made so far.— [email protected]

If you are a fan of war

movies, then you just

need to re-order your

favourite list, reports

REJIMON K.

A FURIOUSLY BRUTAL MOVIE

‘Haider’ wins awards and accolades in Rome

VISHAL BHARDWAJ’S Haider — a modern-day adaptation of Hamlet won the People’s Choice Award in the Mondo Genre (world genre) at the ninth edition of Rome Film Festival on Saturday. “It truly affi rms our belief that good cinema can transcend boundaries and this award puts Haider on the global map,” Amrita Pandey, vice president and head of marketing and distribution — Stu-dios, Disney India, said in a statement. Out of the seven fi lms like A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night (US), Quando Eu Era Vivo/ When I Was Alive (Brazil) and La Prochaine Fois Je Viserai Le Coeur/ Next Time I’ll Aim For The Heart (France), which featured under the genre, Haider was the only Asian fi lm selected across the globe.

Actress Asin to celebrate birthday in ParisASIN Thottumkal, who turned 29 on Sunday, is currently on a break in Paris to have a quiet birthday with family and friends. “Asin left with her family recently on a global trip. She was in New York last week and will join her friends in Paris to cel-ebrate her birthday. She plans to have a low-key birthday celebration,” a source close to the actress told IANS.

Vikram Bhatt to direct ‘Dhadkan 2’FILMMAKER Vikram Bhatt is set to helm Dhadkan 2, which will roll from March 2015. “Yes, I have approached Vikram and we are working on the script right now. It’s too early to talk about the star cast, but Vikram will be di-recting the fi lm,” producer Ratan Jain, who worked with Bhatt on Elaan in 2005, said. —IANS

B O L L Y W O O D

Not superstitious: SRK SINCE the 1990s, Shah Rukh Khan’s movies have been creat-ing fi reworks at the box offi ce during Diwali festival. And the superstar’s latest Happy New Year (HNY) continued the trend by turning out a money-spinner. But King Khan rules out any su-perstition associated with the release date of his fi lms. Shah Rukh’s Happy New Year released a day after the festival of lights and he says superstition has got

nothing to do with it. “It is good to release fi lms on a holiday,” he adds. “You get that extra ben-efi t of a day off ...I am lucky. The movies (that released during Di-wali) have done well, but I am not superstitious like that. Any day is good if I get a good holi-day,” Shah Rukh, whose 2013 blockbuster Chennai Express released in August to coincide with Eid festival, told IANS on phone from Mumbai. —IANS

S T A R B U Z Z

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

CONNECT H E D A I LY G U I D E

D

D4 VACANCY CARGO D7

M O N D AY, O C T O B E R 2 7, 2 0 1 4

RENT D2

DAILY GUIDEEmail: [email protected] classifi [email protected].: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

FOR RENT

1 bedroom and 2 bedrooms fl at

available for rent at Ghubrah, close to

Grand Mall, near Atlas Hospital next

to Diwan’s Offi ce. Contact 24562526,

99833747

Single & 3 bedroom fl ats behind

German Embassy near to Al Nahdha

Hospital. Contact 99203954

Shops available for rent in Honda

road and Ruwi. Contact 24833972

OR GSM 99367448

100+140+180+200 sq mtrs for rent in

Al Khuwair. Contact 99792181

2 BHK beautiful fl at with split AC

available for rent at Qurum near PDO

Gate No-2. Contact 94057023

Excellent fl at for rent in Ruwi,

Mumtaz Area and Al-Hail South.

Contact 98051159

Flat for rent in al Amerat.

Contact 99209264

Flat in Bousher with 3 rooms, living

room RO 400 net, house in Sadab

with 3 room living room

RO 250. Contact 99131232

1,2,3 BHK Flats & Villas.

Contact 97799175

Villas for rent. Contact

97799175

1 BHK near Oman House, Muttrah.

Contact 99233116

Offi ce/shops near Oman House,

Muttrah. Contact 99233116

2 BHK pent house R. 360, 2 BHK

RO.340, 1BHK RO.250/- Bldg #1619

way# 1322 adjacent to Indian

Nursary Darsait.

Contact – 99476728 / 99831047

Flats & shops for rent in Al Amerat.

Flats only for family 3 rooms,

3 attach bathrooms & 1 kitchen.

Flat RO.230/- & shop RO.150/-.

Contact – 98046005

Room Al Khuwair RO 110/-.

Contact 99799175

2 BHK with AC Mumtaz Area

RO 325/- Contact 92144045

2 BHK without AC Azaiba RO 300/-.

Contact 92144045

3 BHK with AC Al Khuwair

RO 500/-. Contact 92144045

4 Bedroom fl at in Ruwi, 400 Riyals.

And shop for Rent in Ruwi,

300 Riyals. Contact 99009854

D2 M O N D AY, O C T O B E R 2 7, 2 0 1 4

2 BHK Wadi Kabir RO 300/-.

Contact 92144045

1 BHK Darsait RO 225/-. Contact

92144045

2 BHK with AC Darsait RO 325/-.

Contact 92144045

Studio Apartment Madinat Qaboos,

RO 235 including W+ E, 4 BHK apart-

ment in Wattayah, RO 450. Villas for

rent. Contact 95178930

2 BHK in Ghubra with A/C, RO 325/-.

Contact 97799175

Villa for family in Qurum near

beach. Friendly and clean neighbor-

hood RO.600/-. 3 Bedrooms, 2 sitting

rooms, dining room, backyard &

shaded car parking. Close to Qurum

Park, fun zone center, cafes and nice

restaurants. Contact - 96185731

Showroom in Washal Area near

Oman House Area 225 SQM, Rent

RO 3 per meter. Contact 95501858

Bachelor villa at Al Ansab.

Contact 98458542

For rent 1 BHK at Al Khodh

commercial area. Contact 99332297,

99224748

Showroom with Mezzanine Floor,

area approx. 310 SQM at Qurum

Prime location for immediate lease.

Ideal for exotic jewellery etc.

Contact 24714625 / 93231434

2 BHK with 3 bathrooms oppo-

site Muscat Pharmacy. Contact

99885169, 99357660

1 BHK near medical, Darsait.

RO 200/- Contact 98748925

5 bedrooms villa, 2 halls, 4 bath-

rooms in Darsait, behind Khimjis

Mart. Contact 24700120 / 92584715

2 B/R Fully Furnished Executive

Apartment @Azaiba Near Zubair

Showroom. 2 B/ R Fully Furnished

Executive Apartment @ Al Khuwair

33 Near Zhaker Mall. 5 B/R Luxury

Fully Furnished villa at Azaiba with

servants quarter. Contact: Atlas Real

Estate & Rent A Car LLC : 99249069

/ 92888376/ 93201688,

Email: [email protected]

Labour Camp for Rent in Wadi Kabir

(50 to 60 people can stay).

Contact 99792181

Store for Rent, Wadi Kabir.

Contact 99792181

2 BHK, 2 Bath, Split A/C,

Wadikhabeer, Near Indian elementry

school. Way 6926, building 1733.

99441193, 93004802.

2 BHK fl at in Ruwi. Contact

99792181

2 BHK fl at in Mumtaz Area.

Contact - 99792181

2 BHK fl at in Al Khuwair.

Contact 99792181

2 bedrooms fl at in Muttrah,

Corniche. Contact 99414644

5 Bedroom Villas at Al Ansab

(Near express highway).

Contact 99199365

Store in Ghala, behind Komatsu.

Contact 99414644

Commercial villa for rent in Sarooj

next to Thailand Embassy

Contact :96969824

Brand new studio fl at in Al Hail with

utilities. Contact 92817777

For rent fl at single room near Indian

School, bathroom, living room in

Wadi Kabir. Contact 99446534

Rooms available near Qurum Park

with separate bathroom for

family and bachelor.

Contact 99664703

Warehouse space for rent about

2000 mtr available at Al Khuwair

area from November 2014.

Contact 91408803.

Email : [email protected]

1 BHK fl at in Wadi Kabir.

Contact 99277787

For rent fl at and showroom,

Al Azaiba, Ghala, Ghubrah, al

Khuwair-33 and Mabelah. Contact

93651633, 24485240, 24485241

Flat in Amerat, 4 rooms, 3 bathroom

with accessories.

Contact 95522405

8 Rooms villa in Al Khuwair for rent

opp. Rawasco, way 4104, villa 341.

Contact - 99361589

We have 1 BHK Ghubrah, 2 BHK

Ruwi, Mumtaz, Rex Road and Darsait,

2 BHK in Ghala, 1 BHK in Ghala, 2

BHK full furnished fl at in Ghala, 1

BHK & 2 BHK offi ces in Ghala and full

furnished offi ces in Ghala, 20 SQM,

25 SQM, 5 BHK villa in Ghubrah,

2 BHK fl at in Qurum.

Contact 93782735 / 99208033

7 Bedrooms Commercial Villa is

available for lease at Al Ghobrah

North, Way No. 3234 H. No. 2189.Built

up area 530 sq.meters,. Additional

contents three sitting halls and

6 toilets. Contact 99411607

Al Khuwair offi ce space 70 SQM.

Contact 99024730

2 BHK Flat in Alkhuwair.

Contact 99792181

2 BHK Flat in Mumtaz Area.

Contact 99792181

2 BHK Flat in Rex Road.

Contact 99792181

2 BHK Flat in Hamriya.

Contact 99792181

2 BHK Flat in Ruwi. Contact

99792181

Large fl at of 2 bedrooms, hall & 3

bathrooms with split A/C’s in Al

Ghobra North 18 Nov Street RO.360.

Contact - 93191111

1 BHK Flat in Ghobra. # 99792181

Room for rent in Ruwi.

Contact 95372192

Villa for rent North Al Hail 3 rooms,

2 toilet, A/C 4 & kitchen. RO 350/-.

Contact 92116353 / 99037989

Building with four fl ats near Pizza

Hut Mawaleh. Contact 99044164

1,000 sq mtrs industrial land in

Misfah Industrial area near to Khan-

co. OMR 1,500 Monthly. Electricity

and Boundary wall will be provided.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

3 BHK fl at available for rent in

Al Hail (North), rent RO 280/-.

Contact 97661432

2 rooms, 1 hall, 1 kitchen, 1 toilet fl at

available for rent in Al Khoudh, rent

RO 250/-. Contact 97661432

DAILY GUIDEM O N D AY, O C T O B E R 2 7, 2 0 1 4 D3

AVAILABLE

Established Restaurant for rent

with sponsorship.

Contact 97628242

Party & Wedding equipment rent-

als. Full line, from Tables, Linen

& Skirting, Chairs & Chair covers,

Cutlery, Crockery, Glassware, Chaf-

ing 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: [email protected]

Running Optical Shop for sale with-

out Opticals, good located in

Al Khoudh – 6. Contact 98545994

Machines for sale – Articulated

dump trucks make Volvo A35D (16

cum) model 2005 & 25 ton AWM

truck mounted crane model 2008.

Contact – 99207592 / 99882570

fax - 24593333

Auto Car Center and Tyre & Align-

ment shops for sale in Barka with

clearance. Currently running shops.

Contact 99470508

Beauty parlor full equipments for

sale. Contact 99752249 / 99263372.

Babu Rustaq B

EXPAT LEAVING, Cooking range/

Air Conditioning/ Fridge/ Washing

Machine/ Gas Cylinder / Sofa/ Cup-

board/ Bed etc all NEW used only for

one year. Contact 92081796

Villa in Mawaleh for sale town

house style near Sahwa roundabout

taamer road. Contact :96969824

1100 SQM of Industrial Shed with

built-in Offi ces in Rusayl Industrial

Estate for immediate lease.

Contact 99263196 /


Shop for sale behind ROP build-

ing. Honda Road, Ruwi. Contact

92130636

Electrical & Building Material Shop

in Muscat for sale. Contact 95330905

For sale 8000 GLO Water Tanker

new. Contact 92906773

A purpose built, profi table restau-

rant at a prime location in Mabellah

Industrial Area off ering Pakistani

cuisine since 2+ years is avail-

able for immediate sale. Interested

parties may contact Faisal Khan at

mobile : +968-99059013 for more

details and site visit.

Lady Beauty saloon. Contact

97786792, 96644372

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

FOR RENT

FOR RENT

BUYING/SELLING

ACC. WANTED

ACC. AVAILABLE

Restaurant in a running and excellent

condition, ample parking space with a

capacity of 55 seating and a party hall

for sale. Contact - 99343735

We are dealing with sale of all beauty

salon equipments, furnitures & cos-

metics. # 942 888 61 / 942 888 63

Big room, bathroom, kitchen near

Riyam Park, Muscat. RO 110.

Contact 95094028

Wadi Kabir, furnished with AC,

separate toilet. Contact 96098443

Looking for purchase of Used Portable Compressor (350 CFM,

7 Bar Pressure) powered with Diesel

run Generator. Kindly contact :

99014686 or

[email protected]

Expat leaving Oman has house

hold items and furniture for sale.

Contact 96964756.

Flat in Bausher for rent. Well

maintained, 2 bedroom, 3 bathroom,

sitting room with split AC.

Contact 99348493, 99337587,

93200424

2 fl oor building, each fl oor has 4

apartment with 3 rooms, 2 bath-

rooms, 5 shops, 4 stores & 400 meter

underground space suitable for sport

halls. Location Al Mabella 8,

behind Gulf College.

Contact 99192999

1 & 2 bedroom fl ats available for rent

at Ghubrah near Grand Mall, close to

Atlas Hospital next to Diwan’s Offi ce.

Contact 24562526 , 99833747

Land and Shops in Rusayl.

Contact 99323957, 95490842,

fax : 24452534

Flat for rent in Wadi Kabir.

Contact 99383569

Offi ce space available for rent near

MSQ. Contact 92888063

BHK Flat at Old Muscat.

Contact: 91393005

1 BHK Wadi Kabir. Contact

99024730

1&2 BHK Darsait. Contact 99024730

Flat for rent in Mumtaz.

Contact 99331947, 98934500

Showroom & store at Honda Road.

Contact 98087644

Flat for rent opposite Gharnata

Shoes, Ruwi. Contact 99358331,

99218484

Flat one bedroom in Wadi Kabir

with split AC. Contact 99313274

1 BHK fl at in Wadi Kabir. RO 215/-.

Contact 99358589

2 BHK fl at - near Kuwaiti Mosque,

Wadi Kabir. Contact 24816774 /

97608564

Small house for rent at Ghubrah.

Contact 95032152

For rent one room with kitchen, bath,

small hall in Sidab.

Contact 93233440

3 BHK Villa, 2 hall, 3 toilets, AC

independent. RO 650/-. in South

Ghubra.Contact 92144045

1 BHK fl at near Star Cinema, Ruwi.

RO 240/-. Contact 97079146 /

95570288

Flats in Darsait, 2 and 3 rooms,

price RO 250, RO 300. Contact

99357586, 97500025, 97884787

Small offi ce for rent in Azaiba North.

Contact 92294409

Deluxe 3 BHK & Villa at Al Ansab.

Contact 98458542

Flats Shops Basement location Ruwi

MBD area, Honda road Mumtaz area.

Contact 97331431 / 92433127

3 BHK Flat Ghubra close to ISG Way

4041, Building 4390.

Contact 99319880

I BHK Flat Wadi Kabir. RO 180/-.

Contact 99376454

Flat for rent in Ruwi, Mumtaz Area

and Al-Hail South. Contact 91409778

Shop for sale in Seeb near Bank

Muscat. Contact 99828343

Twin villa for sale at Khuwair 33.

Both for 185 thousand, negotiable.

Tel: 99414767

Autoclave (Class B), Examination

coaches (Medical Clinic), Split A/Cs,

Chairs etc. for sale.

Contact 95293535

Vegetable shop for sale in Wadi

kabir, Cont : 92786449

For Sale Well running Pharmacy at

primelocation. 93240949

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

Jotun Paint Shop Building Materials

for sale at honda Road.

Contact 99421228

Municipality approved restaurant

for sale or lease with few equip-

ment’s opposite to Sohar university

at main road. Pls call 99412020

Restaurant for sale. Contact

95901870 Contd. on pg 6

M.V. FOR SALE

Lexus GS300, 2006. Contact

93218349

Toyota Yaris auto 2009, 142k,

R.O 2500. Contact 93289652

Toyota Innova, 2010 model, manual

gear. Contact +96892187371

Mitsubishi EX GT with spoiler 2009

66000 km dealer maintained.

Contact 92398644

Ford focus full options, 2010, 8100

kms, expat lady driven, excellent

condition and all tyres changed

recently for immediate sale. Fixed

price OMR 3000. Contact 99421138

2010 Model, APV Suzuki for sale.

Contact 93953237

For sale – Camry 2011, Mazda 6

2006, Lancer 2010, Civic 1996.

Contact 96408433/ 93806625

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

Villa for rent in Muscat 6 rooms.

Contact 96116767

Furnished / unfurnished apart-

ments available for rent on long

term /short term basis, near Vacha’s

hypermarket in Ghala. Contact :

97677211

2 Bedrooms surface house, 1 Fam-

ily Hall, 1 Bathroom, kitchen, full

furnished. For rent (Al Khuwair 33)

Contact: 99315515

2 BR, 2 toilets, kitchen at

Al Mawaleh. Contact 99444786 /

99747560

2 BHK with A/Cs Mutrah behind

Oman house. Contact 99896838

3 rooms, 3 bath & Kitchen Oman

House Muttrah. Contact 99319149

5 Rooms, main living room + Wom-

en living room+2 halls, 6 toilets,

kitchen in Azaiba near Al Fair

800 RO. Contact 99888873

For rent Flat 2 bedroom attach

bathroom opp Ruwi police station

Ruwi. Contact 99311209/ 99013580

Flats, shops basements, location,

Ruwi MBD area, Honda road, Qurum.

Contact 96942749 / 97293708

Big Villa at Bowshar 8 rooms,

8 bathrooms, kitchen, maid room &

Majlis. Contact 91183117

If you have any properties /

Inquiries. Contact us

[email protected] .

Tel 24505072/ 91155779

Fax 24507045

New Villas in (Al Ghobra/ Al Khoudh

/ Al Mabella). Contact 24505072/

91155779 Fax 24507045

Logistic Company with new equip-

ments, contracts sale. Contact

99438523 / 94252527

Sharing accomodation required for a non- cooking executive lady. Contact - 99360615

DAILY GUIDED4 M O N D AY, O C T O B E R 2 7, 2 0 1 4

DAILY GUIDE

DOMESTIC HELP

DRIVER

EDUCATION

ADMIN

BEAUTY

SKILLED / UN SKILLED

SITUATION WANTEDSITUATION VACANT

MEDICAL

SITUATION WANTEDSITUATION WANTED

SITUATION WANTEDSITUATION WANTED

Required a cook. Contact 99209264

Housemaid require for an Indian

family at Ghubrah (full time stay).

Contact 98622766

We need helper for spare parts

shop in Mabelah, salary RO 120/-,

accommodation, visa every two

years, air ticket to and back home.

Contact 99157377 /


Indian Muslim Cook for Omani

family. Contact 95555426

ADMIN/HR

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

DRAUGHTSMAN

DESIGNER

DRIVER

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

Email: [email protected] classifi [email protected].: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

Draughtsman, 2D & 3D (DCSE) with

2 years experience for any vacancy.

Contact 91781227

Autocad d man experienced (arch /

str) revit, 3dmax, Photoshop.

Contact : 93837973

Architectural & Structural

Draughtsman in Oman, 4 years

experience. Contact 95725787

ENGINEERS/TECH..

ENGINEERS/TECH..

Indian light driver having good

experience wants urgent job. Known

languages are English, Hindi and

Arabic. Contact 98976954

5 Years exp light driver. Contact – 95884504

Sri Lankan driver looking for job.

Contact - 97387112

Light driver looking for job, 5 years

exp in Saudi Arabia + Oman 2 yrs.

Contact 96088707

Pakistani male, light duty driver.

Contact 95963682

Experienced driver with car is look-

ing for a job. Contact 92481082

Indian driver, 2 years experience

seeking placement.

Contact 92594539

Experienced light driver available.

Contact 99775728

Indian L/D. Driver, 2 years exp.

Contact 98783139

Experienced Light Driver available.

Contact 95076476

Indian male (Keralite), 30 years

having 5 years Gulf experience look-

ing for driving suitable job.

Contact 96501773, 93220619

Light driver urgently looking for

driver with offi ce boy job, family,

personal driver. NOC ready. Visa

required. Contact 91291108

2 yrs experience. Release available

& seeking job in any company for

light driver. Contact 93966254 /

95151738

Required Indian driver. Contact

99209264

Required light duty driver for a

construction company. Contact

99760596 / [email protected]

Wanted driver. Contact

97469823

Risk & Compliance Manager with

10 years experience in International

Bank, currently in Muscat looking for

suitable opportunity.

Contact 91252808.


Sr. Accountant M.Com (Finance),

14 years experience (1 year in Oman)

in fi nance & Accts. NOC available im-

mediate joining. Contact 92404608.

Email : jin_75@rediff mail.com

Indian Male: B.COM, 4 years experi-

ence in Accounts, in Manufactur-

ing 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@rediff mail.com

Indian male, MBA Finance, 6 plus

years experience in Accounting and

Finance (specialized in Oil & Gas),

inclusive of 2 years in Oman. Now on

visit visa. Contact 94327063.


Fresh Graduate Accountant from

Majan College, B.Sc in BA and Ac-

counting looking for a suitable job.

Contact 96132149

Indian Male, 24 MBA Finance,

1+ years experiences in US Health

Care in Accounts looking for a suit-

able job. Contact 92239445

Sr. Accountant, Indian Male, 35

yrs, B.Com, PGDCA, having 13 yrs

experience in Accounts/Finance up to

fi nalization. 8 yrs in Oman.

Contact 95593273

Indian Female, MBA, Finance,

1 year 6 months experience in Oman

seeking suitable placement.

Contact 97349904.


Senior Position for CA with 24 years

of experience: Managing Finance, Ac-

counts, Audit, Bank Loans, Budgeting,

Business planning, Strategy,

Operations management of SAOG,

group of companies. Mobile 91799262

Indian male, 24 yrs with 3 yrs

accounting exp. in Oman, 2 yrs in

construction & block factory in ac-

counts, with valid Oman D/L, seeks

suitable placement. Also interested

working in sales or purchase.

Contact 96059201

Indian male, 20 years of experience

in Accounts looking for suitable

post, having GCC license. Contact

97100546, +91- 9744370818

Srilankan male, 29 yrs, Graduate

in B.Com, 8 yrs experience in Qatar

working knowledge with Tally, MS

Offi ce, Chartered Accounts, Auditing

seeking suitable placement. Contact

93351256 / 95440714. Email:

[email protected]

Masters in Banking and Finance,

UK University, 6 months experience

as Account Analyst at UK

seeking suitable position in reputed

companies. Contact 99883502,

97422558

Chartered Accountant with 10 yrs

of Gulf & MNC experience, in depth

knowledge in Financial statements

including consolidation, treasury,

MIS, AR/AP, Insurance, Taxation,

Payroll etc looking for Senior posi-

tion in fi nance, NOC available.

Email : [email protected].

Contact : 96293649

Indian male, MBA Finance, HR having

7 years experience in Insurance, Ac-

counts, Banking looking for a suitable

position. Contact 99070238.


UK qualifi ed, MBA fi nance with

6 years experience in Accounts &

Finance up to fi nalization. D/L and

NOC available. Contact 91266101

Accountant 10 years Oman exp,

M.Com, upto fi nalization available for

part time works, timing 2 pm to 6 pm.

Contact 96247295

Part Time Accounting, Accounts

Finalization, Internal Audit, Onsite

Tally Training, Onsite Training for

Accountants, Inventory Management,

MIS Reports, Feasibility Study and

Project Reports. Contact : 96975454,

email : [email protected]

Part time Accountant with 19 yrs

exp in Accounting Management.

Contact 95857199

MBA Finance, Indian female, 2 years

of Accounting experience. Seeking

suitable placement. GSM: 91586771

Email: [email protected] ,

Indian Male, 34, B.Com & CA inter-

mediate, over 14 years experience

(7 years in Oman). Expertise, Ac-

counts fi nalizations, MIS, Budgeting

and Audit functions with Oman D/L.

NOC available looking for suitable

Accounts Managerial Positions.

Contact 99169501

Omani female, 3 yrs exp in Ac-

counts & 7 months exp in shipping,

3 yrs exp in Secretary job, knowl-

edge in Computer with Oman D/L.

Contact 94252699

Indian Document Controller,

15 years, GCC experience, release

available. Contact 99324617

Indian female, 22 years, B.Com

seeks suitable placement currently

on visit visa. Contact 94514154

Accountant 8 years experience in

Oman seeking prime job.

Contact 99867456

Required female accountant postgraduate in commerce

email: [email protected]

ENGG. / TECHNICAL

SALES / MARKETING

SALES / MARKETING

Reputed building material company looking for outdoorSales executive having valid Omani

driving license with more than 2

years local sales experience in tiles/

sanitary ware.

Please fax your CV to 24798709 /

Email – [email protected]

Requirement: Sales Executive (Building materials/ lightings). Expe-

rience: Candidate having minimum 5

years experience of selling building

materials in Oman. Driving License:

Must Mail your CV to:

[email protected]

Mechanical Supervisor or Mechan-

ical Technician in General Industrial

Machineries, 14 years experience in

Mechanical Maintenance errection.

Preference is near Ghala or Muscat

area. Contact 91327881

WANTED a full time lady recep-tionist with good communication

skills in English, pleasant, joyful and

understanding personality.

Preferably Omani nationals

experienced in accounting.

Email- [email protected]

Omani required for PRO, Sales & debt collector. Please call

99855604 / 99855784

Indian female Senior Accountant

with 10 years experience in Ac-

counts, Finance, Audit & Tax Man-

agement. Contact 96263157

Indian male age 30 having

10 yrs experience in Finance &

Accounts seeking suitable place-

ment. mob.93675399

Experienced Indian or Nepali beau-tician, over 30 yrs.

Contact 99467033 / 91162480

5 years experience with Diploma Civil required urgently for an

excellent grade company. Email :

[email protected]

Required Civil Engineer (Diploma) with Oman experience

and NOC. Email –

[email protected]

An Electrical Engineering and Con-

sulting Services Company is looking

for a Dynamic Marketing person; with strong valid contacts in GCC.

Must posses 3-4 years of experi-

ence in the relevant fi eld. Send your

updated resume with latest

passport sized picture at

[email protected]

Fire and Safety Company required

certifi ed, 1. Electrician for fi re con-

trol panel and fi re fi ghting system. 2.Pipe fi tter for fi re fi ghting system

and gas installation. Oman experi-

ence with NOC and Driving license

preferable. Send CV with expected

salary to [email protected]

Required experienced part time Quantity Surveyors (Civil & MEP)

who can work from their home for

Consultancy Offi ce. Send CV to

[email protected].

Contact : 93457995

Required mobile technician for Samsung, Iphone and other

Smartphones. Contact 97613774

Urgently required Lab Techni-cian either Locum (3 months) or

permanent for a hospital in Muscat.

wanted the following : Gynecologist

(female), Embryologist (Muslim),

Nephrologists, Nursing Superin-

tendant (female), Nurse (female with

MOH license), Dialysis Nurses,

all other medical specialist /

consultants. Email CV :

[email protected]

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 man-

agement, fl uent in English & Arabic.

Contact: 99170315

B.Tech, AutoCAD, Indian Electrical 4

yrs experience in designing, drawing,

testing commesioning of transform-

ers D.G. Sets HT Panels, LT Panels, LT

and HT, cable laying looking immedi-

ate placements. Contact- 94516624.


Senior Interior Designer having

15 years Gulf experience in offi ce,

hospitality & showroom design


Contact 94181178

Urgently required Tile Masons for

an excellent grade company. Con-

tact 99882565

Required Tailor. Contact 95204145

Electrical cum plumbing foreman capable of handling site by himself.

Free food and accommodation sal-

ary negotiable. Contact – 24811425

/ 99410979

Required experienced Civil Fore-man / Charge hand with driving

license. Contact 99760596 /

[email protected]

Required urgent for Qatar Op-erators, Dumper (Basic QR 1600), Roller (Basic QR 1600), Excavator (Basic QR 1800), Grader (QR 1800 ),

Dozer (QR 1800 -2000) + Free Food

+ Accommodation + Joining Ticket,

Send CV to - oa@skcmanagement.

com / [email protected] /

0091 9650112346 OR 00968

99592551

Required experienced marketing & sales person for HVAC Company,

may apply with details to

[email protected],

fax : 24799442

Best Lube Trading LLC Oil Trad-ing Co have situation vacant for Sales Executive & Accountant/ Store Keeper position one number.

The desire candidate should have

Oman D/L with Oman experience

and required on urgent basis for Oil

company. Please post CVs on

[email protected].

Contact 00968-24467177

Required Marketing Executives. Send your CV :

[email protected]

Require Salesman for gift shop with

release letter. Mail CV & ID copy to

[email protected]

Required Salesman for household

and Industrial Chemical Manufac-

turing & Trading Company with

minimum 5 years experience and

valid Omani Driving License.

Apply with full details to

fax : 24597945

[email protected]

Salesman cum Merchandiser ur-

gently required for a reputed FMCG

Company engaged in manufactur-

ing and trading in Oman. Candidate

must have minimum 4-5 years

experience in the similar fi eld and

valid Omani Driving license. Inter-

ested candidates may send in their

CV to [email protected]

Experienced in fi eld operation – in-

ventory controlling safety & admin-

istration. Holding IOSH & OSHA with

D/L. Contact – 91710274

Indian male MBA 32 yrs having 10

yrs of exp seeking suitable place-

ment in Admin/ HR/ Operations/

Coordination/ Logistics etc.

Holding valid Oman D/L

Contact - 99054786

Indian male, MBA 23 years having

1 year of exp seeking suitable place-

ment in Admin/ HR/ Marketing/ Co-

ordinator/ Logistic etc. #97014369.


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 po-

sition or P.R.O part time or full time.

Contact 95933288

MBA, 30 yrs male, Indian fresher

seeks suitable post in HR, Supervi-

sor, Admin. Contact 96329315

3 years experience in Administra-

tion, Sales/Marketing Manager hav-

ing Omani Driving License.

Contact 96041816

Male, 27 years with MBA in HR/

MKT having 2 years exp in respec-

tive fi eld looking for suitable

placement in leading organization.

Contact 91705051

Required Teachers for English,

Physics & Art. Only eligible candi-

date with the required experience

and qualifi cation may apply within

a week’s time at

[email protected]

Urgently required - For a reputed

British English Training Insti-

tute - English Teachers - 02 nos - Candidate should be qualifi ed in

respective fi eld and have experi-

ence min 5 years in TEFL courses

and preparation of certifi cations

like CELTA, TOEFL and IELTS etc.

Interested candidates may send CV

to [email protected]

Required experienced Montessori Teacher, qualifi cation : B.A; B.Ed or

Montessori. Call 24705605

from 8 am to 1 pm

Mechanical Engineer with min

(2 yrs) experience in HVAC & female

Offi ce Secretary with Computer

Knowledge, may apply with details

to [email protected],

Fax : 24799442

Leading construction company

requires Quantity Surveyor (QS) preferably Srilankan Nationality

with minimum 8 to 10 years expe-

rience. Send your CV to

[email protected]

Civil Engineer with 3 yrs Gulf ex-

perience with Driving License. Send

CV by mail to : agemancont@gmail.

com. Contact 98015925, 95049910

Work on very good commission basis in Sales in Muscat & Salalah

only for expats. Contact 92760281

Required outdoor salesman with

D/L. email: [email protected]

Indian female, 25 yrs, HR, MBA,

Marketing having 2 yrs experience,

residing in Wadi Kabir. Contact

91208916

Experience PRO Oman Male, 36

Yrs, 16 yrs experience in PRO/ HR &

Administration, Prefect English lan-

guage speaking & writing with D/L,

Seeks suitable placement, Can join

immediate. Contact 91221773

MBA with 9 years of experience

in HR, Training, Admin & Business

Development able to speak Arabic

and English looking for placement.

Contact 96730659

Indian male 39 yrs 3+yrs overseas

experience as technical admin in

maintenance & service fi eld, cur-

rently under visit visa till 06 Nov,

seeks suitable placement in Admin/

HR/Operations/Coordination.

Contact 97094564


Omani female with 9 yrs exp look-

ing for PRO job with Oman D/L.

Contact 97917333

32 years Pakistani MBA (Manage-

ment and Finance) from a reputed UK

University with 5+ years experience

in Accounts and Managerial positions

(in UK) seeks a suitable job.

Contact 95658916


DAILY GUIDESITUATION WANTEDSITUATION WANTED

MISCELLANEOUS

MISCELLANEOUS

INFORMATION TECH

EDUCATION

HOSPITALITY

ENGG. / TECHNICAL

ENGG. / TECHNICAL

MEDICAL

Female homoeopathic doctor, ,prometric passed, seeks suitable

position. Contact:93780029

Registered female Staff Nurse with 7 years of experience (Worked

4 Years in SAUDI MOH& 3 years in

India) on visit visa seeking for

a nursing job in Muscat.

GSM: 96521985

Female Indian GP 19 years ex-

perience 11 years in Oman seeks

placement in capital area. release


Pharmacist, D. Pharm, 3 yrs experienced, prometric exam

passed, on family visa.

Contact: 94523106

Indian female Dentist, MOH license

holder, with an experience of 6 yrs,

looking for a suitable opportunity.

Contact 94046651 or

[email protected]

Indian Male GP with MOH License

and NOC, having 10 years of excel-

lent hands on experience in Oman

with corporate culture.

Contact 98140024


Nursing caregiver, qualifi ed Nurse/

Asst. Nurse (male/ female) medical

staff seeks placement for Hospital/

clinic. Contact 92989109 (Oman),

0091 – 9555427742 (India),

[email protected]

Indian male, 29 yrs, B.A English &

MSW with 5 years exp in develop-

ment fi eld including hospital &

school social work, offi ce admin,

projects, public relations, network-

ing and teaching seek suitable posi-

tions. Fluent in English (IELTS 7.5)

Contact 94150354.


Indian male, senior Miller fl our

mills, 24 yrs exp. including erection

& QC, presently working in India.

Contact 0091 9744167051

Indian male, BBM (Bachelor of

Business Management) looking for a

suitable job, ready to join immedi-

ately, currently in Oman under visit

visa. Contact 99354090. Email :

[email protected]

BMS CAD Engineer, total 8 years

exp, 3 yrs exp in Oman BMS Design-

ing and drafting Diploma in Mechan-

ical Eng. Looking for BMS designing

and drafting job. Contact 91237089.


Civil Engineer 10 years experi-

ence with valid Omani Driving

License, India No. 00971558957784,

00914742519390

Graduate Mechatronic Engineer with Diploma in product design and

analysis, seeking a job.

Contact – 98584349 /


Sudanese Electrical Engineer, Bsc.

Degree with more than 8 Years Ex-

perience in Projects Field available

on Visit Visa 96160749`,


Electrical Engineer having 2

yrs of experience, substation/

maintenance seeking for suitable

placement. Contact 97698493 /

99253909

Indian female, Civil Engineer, 10 yrs

experience QS, valid Oman D/L look-

ing for better opportunities.

Contact 95719108

6 years experienced, NET WEB

DEVELOPER (Software Engineer)

available in Oman on visit visa &

looking for opportunity.

Contact 91125896

Civil Engineer, Indian male with 5

yrs experience in building looking

for immediate opportunity.

Contact 99126087

Civil Engineer with 8 years experi-

ence and valid Omani D/L looking

for suitable placement. Ready to join

immediately. Contact 95326194 /

99525367

Civil Engineer (Diploma), 5 yrs

experience with Omani D/L on visa.

NOC available. Contact 93091214 /

99030342

Indian Female, 22 years BE Elec-

tronics and Communications, fresh

graduate currently seeking for a

suitable job. Contact 93647104,

98163767. Email :

[email protected]

BE Civil Engineer, fresh graduate,

male 24 yrs, Indian looking for a

suitable placement.

Contact 95117509

Civil Engineer - B.Tech- 12 years

experience in Gulf seeks placement.

Contact 97930786

Chemical/ Petrochemical Engineer,

Omani, 26, having bachelor of engi-

neering from UON, seeking opening.

Contact :- 95608345

D.A.E Civil Engineer having 3 years

experience in Road Surveyor +

Quantity Survey of road + building

construction + AutoCAD 2D & 3D

and Engle point seeking for suitable

placement. Contact 96744258,

98780156

8 yrs experience Site Engineer with

license seeking job.

Contact 97449630

BSc Mechanical Engineer, 6 years experience Master of Project

Management (USA), energy gradu-

ated study. Contact 99487902. Email

[email protected]

B. Tech Civil Engineer having

9 years of experience in Construc-

tion of buildings & roads in Oman

looking for suitable job in Engineer-

ing Consultancy. Contact 91078499

MEP Engineer (HVAC) with 2 years

experience. Now in Oman on visit.

Seeking suitable placement.

GSM: 91744764

email:[email protected]

Indian male, Civil Engineer (BE),

2 yrs experience in India, having

knowledge in Primavera, AutoCAD

etc. Contact 98639039

Civil Engineer, Indian female, 2 yrs

experience as Quantity Surveyor,

also in Primavera, AutoCAD.

Contact 91690345

Fresh Graduate in Mechanical En-

gineering looking for a suitable job.

Graduated in July 2014 with Valid

D/L. Contact 97839918

Indian female, 22 year old, Msc

Microbiology, One year experience,

seek suitable vacancies. Contact no.

95466271

Indian Female,B.Sc Chemistry,

experience as Chemist 2years.

GSM: 92007276,


MSc. Chemistry Teacher (5 y EXP.)

Pakistani female looking for a job in

School/college 96580101

Physical Science/Mathematics female teacher with 6 years Indian

experience, seeking a position in a

reputed school/Institution. QUALI-

FICATION: B.Sc (Mathematics, Elec-

tronics & computer science), B.Ed

(Mathematics & English). Contact:

Kamaal. GSM: 94300026, Email:

[email protected]

Indian male, MSc Bed. Looking

for teaching job in Science. Email

: [email protected].

Contact 91344706. Now in Muscat

on visit visa.

MANAGER/ SUPER

Indian 25 years FMCG Business in

senior level looking suitable posi-

tion D/L available, NOC available.

Contact – 99015946

General Manager/working partner

20 years advertising agency experi-

ence. Contact 93031168

Indian 24 yrs experienced MEP

Construction Manager seeks

suitable placement.

Contact 92576680


Indian male, 18 yrs experience in

catering as Purchase Executive

Project Supervisor & Warehouse

incharge in Saudi Arabia, language

known Arabic, English & Hindi hold-

ing valid D/L. Contact 96304501.


Purchase & Logistics Manager - (12

+ yrs Exp. in Oman) With D/L, look-

ing for suitable position.

Contact: [email protected] ,

Gsm: 93826090

Indian male (23), Diploma in Com-

puter Engineering, 1.5 years experi-

ence in leading IT Company in India.

IT skills including Web Design and

Development, computer Hardware

Maintenance and BPO. Looking for a

suitable placement,

currently on visit visa.

Email : [email protected].

Contact 92689778, 92150123

Mechanical Engineer Diploma, 26

male with 2.5 years experience in

India having experience in Quality

Control and Auto Mobile Industries

on visit seeking for a suitable oppor-

tunities in Mechanical fi eld.

Contact 98215077

Indian male, Engineer (BE in E&C,

MBA in HR) with 5 years profes-

sional/admin experience, highly

talented, looking for a suitable place-

ment in a reputed company.

Contact 91387463.


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 [email protected]

BE EEE (B.TECH).24 Years male.

2 Yrs exp. In supervisory role in elec-

trical maintenance.Looking for suit-

able placement. Contact 93415537

or 00919597016055

Indian Male, Civil Engineering

Degree with 0.5 years of experience

as Site Engineer is looking for job.

Contact 98247618, 99775118

BE Electronics and Instrumenta-

tion Engineer having experience

in Commissioning Installation and

Maintenance in diff erent kinds of

equipments and instruments and

also in Petro-Chemical plants.

About 2 years experience.

Contact 91792114

M.Tech Computer Science and

Engineering having 3+ years of

experience in Software Development

in JAVA J2SE, J2EE. Technologies

like JDBC Serlets JSP Struts Spring

& JSF Hibernate web services.


GSM: 95907883

Mechatronics Industrial Engineer,

Indian 29 yrs with MBA in Industrial

Mgmt. 10 yrs experience in Mainte-

nance & Automation PLC Pneu-

matics seeks suitable placement.

Contact 99228658.


Architect Engineer (28) male, B.Sc

Degree, 6 years experience in Con-

struction work, AutoCAD, ArchiCAD,

3D Max, Art Lantis.

Contact 94370767, 94103445

Electrical Engineer, Indian, 2.5

years experience at Thermal Plant,

(erection and commissioning). Now

in Oman on visit seeking suitable

job. Contact 95836714.

Email – [email protected]

Srilankan B.Tech Quantity Surveyor

with 6 years exp (3 yrs GCC) looking

for a suitable placement with NOC.

Contact 98357512.


Sudanese Mechanical Engineer, male, 5 yrs experience looking for

job in Oman. Contact 91762602

Mechanical Engineer,(BTech in

Mechanical) with Certifi ed quality

controller - NDT level 2 qualifi ed as

per ASNT - SNT-TC-I A, with

1 & half yr exp. as quality control

engineer, presnetly in India seeks

suitable placement

Cont : 95405033

[email protected]

Indian male Diploma in Mechani-

cal Fitter (Marine) having 3 years

experience seeking suitable place-

ment. Contact 93435399, 97858235.

Email : [email protected],

[email protected]

Indian female (25), M.Tech

(Electronics/VLSI) seeking place-

ment in Electronics/ Education

(Teaching)/ Admin.

Contact 91712140 / 93937141.


Biomedical Engineer with driving

license, 1 year experience willing to

work out in the fi eld, perfect English

language speaking, writing.

Contact 95902585

B.Tech holder with 4 years experi-

ence having good knowledge in

AutoCad 2D & 3D (Civil/Mechanical/

Electrical), PDMS and CATIA VS.

Currently on visit visa.

Contact 91475672.


Indian Male, 26 yrs, graduate

in hospitality science, with New

Zealand business diploma and previ-

ous Oman experience in Customer

service seeks suitable placement in

hospitality/salesmarketing/ logis-

tics/ admin. Contact 91383167

Female 21 yrs, Tally 1 year experi-

ence, looking for visa.

Contact 95330720

Male 22 Housekeeping front offi ce

Hotel management degree course.

Contact 96732520

SALES / MARKETING

SKILLED/UN SKILLED

Sr. Procurement and logistics Ex-ecutive with 8 years experience (in

middle east), in Oil and gas as well

as Industrial projects and an overall

16 years of total job experience

together in India and Qatar is on the

lookout for a suitable placement.

Valid GCC driving license.

Contact: 91750084

Indian Male, 25 yrs in FMCG Busi-

ness looking for Senior position D/L

available. NOC available.

Contact 99015948

Talented & ambitious management

Graduate with 18 months experience

in customer service looking for suit-

able position in a reputed company.

Contact 97747888,

[email protected]

I have release and want job in any

company. Contact 95151738

Indian male, MSc, 4 years experi-

ence in India in Sales and Admin,

now in Muscat on visit visa. Email

[email protected].

Contact 91344706

Indian female, 32 yrs, MBA

(Marketing), holding Omani D/L

seeks suitable placement.

Contact 95041134.


Indian male, 15 years experience

in Sales & Marketing dealing with

Building Materials, construction

equipments, industrial tools,

automobile, cleaning and agricul-

tural equipments seeking suitable

position with Oman D/L. NOC


28 yrs, Indian male, Technical

Sales Engineer, MENG (Canada),

4 years plus Oman market experi-

ence with leading brand looks for

suitable opening. Contact 93985140,

91692126

Indian male, 19 yrs of qualitative

experience in FMCG with multina-

tional company in Oman.

Expert in Sales/Merchandising/

Trainings seeking job in

Sales/Managerial fi eld.

Contact 92155261

24 years Pakistani male having 3

years experience in Pre Sales and

Distribution / Marketing of FMCG

products is looking for a job.

Contact 96955096

Indian male, MBA, 6 years of experi-

ence looking for suitable placement

in Marketing and Sales.

Contact 91780948

Indian male, MBA (Marketing) hav-

ing more than 3 years experience in

Marketing & Sales, currently on visit

visa seeking suitable placement.

Contact 96301626.


MBA with 15+ years of experience

in Senior/Middle Level Mgt in India

and GCC with various MNC’s is on

family visit looking for a suitable

opening. Contact 97330734

Indian Male, 28 yrs, having 5

years experience in FMCG Sales in

visit visa, Looking for any suitable

jobs in Oman. Contact 98531486/

98988824

Bsc computer-science gradu-

ate, MCSE certifi ed & diploma in

.netframework, Java, SQL, UML,

ASP.NET with good experience as

computer technician, seeking for

suitable position in IT & sales.

Mob: 95853895


Microsoft Certifi ed Systems En-

gineer (Hardware)-5 years experi-

enced Systems Engineer (2 years in

UAE as plant IT operations) search-

ing for job in Oman -

Contact 92254218 / 99412003

Searching for job BSC Computer

Science. Contact –

[email protected]

Indian male, Graduate, CCTV, CCNA,

Networking, MS Offi ce, 2 yrs experi-

ence. Contact 98129846

Indian female, Software tester with

5 years experience in Oracle and

Wipro Technologies Indian having

knowledge in SQL and Dataware

House looking for suitable job.

Contact 98605362.


HSE Professional, 12 years experi-

ence in GCC with valid GCC Driving

license with NEBOSH DIP, NEBOSH

IGC, OPAL competence card, IOSH

Graduation in Industrial Safety.

Contact 96230916

Indian male, 13 years of experience

in Software Industry looking for suit-

able job now on visit.

Contact 99094428

Indian Male 23yrs, BBM With 2.5

yrs of exp. in Sales & Marketing.

Looking for a suitable placement in

sales & Marketing/Counter sales,

Store keeper or Supervisor.

Contact 92092248

Welder cum fabricator tig, 3g 6g ,

gulf experienced, PH : 93837973

Procurement, Inventory and Supply

Chain, 20 yrs experience for Civil,

Electrical and Electromechanical

in Oman with valid D/L looking for

suitable placement. NOC/Release

available.

Contact 00968-97194905.

Indian female post graduate look-

ing for suitable job in commercial/

admin/hr/customer relation (1 year

exp). Contact :97792820,

[email protected]

36 years, Indian male, MBA, 15

years experience in Life, Health, Mo-

tor Insurance seeking opportunity

in Bank assurance ERP Consulting.

Presently in Muscat.

Interested only in full time work.

Contact 96269494.


Yoga Instructor, skilled experienced

Indian male now available in Oman

till 8th November seeks suitable

post. Contact 95991788

An Indian national having 20 years

of experience in various offi ce ac-

tivities at Middle Managerial Level

seeking suitable placement. Contact

93689602 / 95584606

27 Years Pakistani male in (Crimi-

nology having 4 years experience in

security and management seeking

suitable placement as security

offi cer. Contact 99191701


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 [email protected]

Pakistani male, 30 years looking

for a suitable position in Market-

ing/ Sales having 8 years relevant

experience, Graduate in Business

Administration with fl uent English

in Muscat on visit visa.

Contact 96528508

Indian male Graduate looking for job

in Sales/Admin, having experience

of 15 years. Currently on visit visa in

Oman upto 30th November.

Contact 97287485

Sales/ Marketing / customer

service release / NOC available UK

+ Oman experience valid Oman D/L,

excellent communication & organ-

izing skills, can join immediately,

Email : [email protected],

gsm 92342060 / 96761225

MISCELLANEOUS

29 yr old indian male graduate 5yrs

oman exp in sales and marketing

with valid oman driving license

looking for suitable job.Noc available

ready to join immediately

Contact 95136784

Indian male with over 19 years of

qualitative experience in Automo-

bile fi eld, expert in providing techni-

cal advice on repairs and servicing

seeks jobs in sales/ service in ma-

negerial capacity. #91-7736048460.

[email protected]

Indian male 32 Years 6 years expe-

rience in Building material outdoor

Sales with valid Oman D/L.

Contact 97462080

Indian male, 22 yrs, MBA(HR) BCA

looking for suitable position. Pre-

ferred Admin, Accounts, HR, Sales,

Purchase Co-ordinator.

Contact 94512430

Indian male, MBA Having experi-

ence in Accounts, looking for suit-

able job. Contact 92045306

Indian male MBA (HR& FIN) exp one

year as HR, EXP now we have visit

visa, looking opportunity in Admin

–HR/ hospitality / purchase, seeking

suitable placement as soon as pos-

sible. Contact 93662430


M. Com/PGDCA having 15 years

of experience in Oman, looking

for a new placement in the fi eld of

Accounts and administration. NOC

available. Contact : 92425421 /

Email: [email protected].

Sr. Accountant M.Com (Finance) 14

years experience (1 year in Oman) in

fi nance & Accounts. NOC available.

Contact 92404608.

Email : jin_75@rediff mail.com

Draughtsman 10 years experience

in Oil/ Gas, looking for suitable job

immediate joining NOC available.

Contact 968 98628657

Email [email protected]

Indian male, 26 Years. AutoCAD

M.E.P. Draftsman (Plumbing &

mechanical) having 4 years Oman

experience. Presently working in a

reputed company in Oman. Seeks

suitable placement.

Contact 97351786 / 96143708.

DAILY GUIDE Tel. 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 431 / 456 / 461Fax: 24812624


D6 M O N D AY, O C T O B E R 2 7, 2 0 1 4



SITUATION WANTED

*Classifi ed Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon

for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

Senior Accounts Professional, Indi-

an Male, 35 years, M.Com, MBA (Fin)

8 years in Oman, with valid Oman

DL and NOC available. Capable to

handle accounts up to fi nalization.

Contact 9602 3965.

Female Candidate: Having

experience(ISRO) in Administration

(seeking suitable opportunities &

presently in Oman

Mob:97239854,

Mail:[email protected]

Indian Male, 24 years old on visit

visa, 3 years Diploma in Civil Engi-

neering, 3 yrs experience.

Contact 98515106

Indian male, 24 years MA Sociol-

ogy (Social science) B-Ed. 2year

experience in teaching, currently

on visit seeking suitable placement.

Contact 91632006, 91397505

Email- [email protected]

Indian Male, MBA Finance, 1.5

years’ experience in Operations and

Customer Service. In Muscat on

Visit Visa till 14th Nov.

Contact: 93755852, Email:

[email protected]

Indian male having 10 years of

experience in Oman having Valid

Omani Driving license working in

Purchase Dept looking for a suit-

able position. Salary is negotiable.

[email protected]

Mob: 94304324/92654817

Indian Male, 24 years old on visit

visa, 3 years Diploma in Civil Engi-

neering, 3 yrs experience.

Contact 98515106

Communication Manager, pleasing

personality, strong English skills,

highly qualifi ed, Oman experience

in Corporate, Organizational &

Marketing Communication, Busi-

ness Development, Marketing Press

Relations, Ads, Campaigns,

CSR Programs. NOC.

Contact 98179887

Senior Sales & Marketing special-

ist with 14 years of experience

and proven track record in Muscat

looking for a suitable placement in

a reputed Company. Indian Male,

38 years (Electronics Engineer)

preferred industry (Electronics /

Electrical / Electro Mechanical) hav-

ing good exposure in access Control

& Automation systems, Lighting &

Electrical accessories etc.

Contact 92208744.


NDT ASNT Level II (RT,UT,PT,MPT)

Technician having 3 & half yr ex-

perience, seeks suitable placement.

Currently on visit visa.

Contact : 94514454,

[email protected]

Indian male 24: Looking for job

in admin /sale/offi ce/customer

service/maintenance etc. Currently

on family visit. Contact:94514201,

email id:

[email protected]

28year Indian female (MBA-

Finance) with 3+yrs experience

(Oman) in Accounts is seeking suit-

able placement in Accounts/Admin.

Contact:96141283.

Indian Male, 24 yrs on visit visa,

3 yrs Diploma in civil Engineering,

3 yrs experience. Contact 98515106

23,male, ACCA fi nalist-last paper

left, 2 years of accounts, external &

internal audit and feasibility study

experience in Audit Firm, looking for

permanent replacement,

Contact: 95140445

email address:[email protected]

Indian male, age 27, having 6 years

experience in fi nance & accounts,

seeking suitable jobs.

Ph: 92902651

M.Com Graduate seeking suitable

placement. Contact 99363721

Young male, 22 years, B. Arch. gradu-

ate with 7 months training experience,

seeks suitable entry-level position

in an architecture fi rm or architec-

ture and engineering consultancy.

Currently on visit visa, ready to join

immediately. Phone no. 91265929


Indian Male, Purchase/Procurement

Offi cer with 16 years experience,

presently working in UAE,


Contact: 00 971 55 3390 467

Mail: [email protected]

Indian Female Lawyer 36 yrs hav-

ing 10 yrs experience presently in

Oman seeks suitable placement in

Legal fi eld/HR/Admin # 94436960


Post graduate in hospitality and

tourism, Indian ,male 26 , looking

suitable placement ,in Muscat on

visiting visa contact 98861272

CIVIL ENGINEER (Diploma) Male

25, 3 years experience in site, CAD,

3d, MS Project, seeking job in

Oman.#92887561,

[email protected]

Diploma in Civil Engineering, site

engineer with Auto Cad (Civil & MEP),

Total Station, Theodolite, Dumpy

level, etc., having 4 years experience

in Oman with Omani LMV Driving

License, Seeking suitable chances.

Contact:- 0091 9744851943(India),

00968 99416057(Oman)

Female Dentist with MOH li-

cense, 4 years experience look-

ing for work as dentist in Muscat.

Contact 91268110/99884299 or

+639274302729

B.E(Civil), Indian male with 1 year

of experience, on visit visa seeking

for a suitable job. Contact 91231972,


Indian Male 25, Offi ce Administra-

tor/Assistant, 2 years experience in

Oman, Well versed with Computer

operation and basic knowledge

in Computer Software and Hard-

ware, seeks immediate change.

NOC available. Contact: 94024096

Eamil:[email protected]

Female Candidate: Having

experience (ISRO) in Administration

(seeking suitable opportunities &

presently in Oman Mob:97239854,

Mail:[email protected]

Female/29 yrs old/MSC Biotechnol-

ogy& pursuing Phd /4 yrs total exp/

Seeking for a suitable placement/

Contact No :- 95925881

Indian Female 23, BE Electronics

and Communication, First Class with

distinction, C,C++,VHDL. Currently on

family visa, looking for suitable place-

ment in electronics division or associ-

ated areas. Contact : 98952340

Indian Male, 39, graduate 17 years

experience in FMCG sales and

marketing Managerial and supervi-

sor level. With driving license also

know all over Oman include Mazira

Island and Casabu, looking for better

Opportunities -Mob-92090949

Indian Male seeking a job in Sales

& Marketing, 11 years experience

proven experience as a dynamic

candidate with excellent Manage-

rial & Communication skills. Cur-

rently on visit Contact 99363159,

94093154 [email protected]

8 yrs exp 2d, 3d draughtsman cum

site supervisor (HOLDING OMANI

DRIVING LICENSE) seeking job.

Contact : 93790601

Finance Manager/Administrator,

Male 40, MBA-Finance & Marketing,

with over 20 years’ experience in

large multinational organizations.

Excellent project management skills.

Seeking to continue career at Senior

level. Contact: 97436065. Email:

[email protected]

Electronic Engineer, 23, looking for

suitable placement.

Contact: 96271586

Female staff nurse with Oman

Prometric passed, seeking suitable

placement, currently on visit visa.

Contact 97803046

Electronics Engineer, experience in

Siemens Scada PLC. On visit.

Looking for suitable job.

Contact: 96271586

Indian Female 30yrs, MCA, working

as Computer Teacher in India & Mal-

dives looking for Job in Oman now

on Visit Visa, CTC No.

Mob 95083454,

[email protected].

Indian male Commerce Graduate

with 8 years experience in stores

and logistic, fl uent English currently

in Muscat on visit visa till November

17th 2014.seeking for suitable place-

ment. Contact 99849247.

E mail - [email protected],

[email protected]

Indian male graduate 17 years ex-

perience in fmcg sales distribution

with valid driving license seeking

suitable placement

Contact.92090949

8 yrs exp 2d, 3d draughtsman

(HOLDING OMANI DRIVING LICENSE)

seeking job. Contact : 97449630

Young male, 22 years, B. Arch.

graduate with 7 months training

experience, seeks suitable entry-level

position in an architecture fi rm or

architecture and engineering consul-

tancy. Currently on visit visa, ready to

join immediately. # 91265929


Indian male Commerce graduate

with 8 years experience in stores

and logistic, working knowledge in

SAP & ERP, fl uent English, currently

in Muscat on visit visa till 17th

November 2014, seeking for Suitable

placement Contact no 99849247

email - [email protected],

[email protected]

Diploma in civil engineering having

an experience 23 years (19 years

in Oman) experience in Estimator /

quantity surveyor looking for a

suitable placement,

willing to join immediately

Contact : 96328687.

Filipino Female photographer/ graphic designer / receptionist

looking for suitable job in Muscat.

Contact: +971 563749414

26 years Indian male with MBA

& PGDFM, Total 3.2 years experi-

ence in administration and accounts

.seeking suitable placement in

Muscat, having Oman valid driving

license. Contact :93359371.

MBA Finance, 5 Years’ experience in

Accounts, Finance & Administration ,

with Valid UAE D/L

Contact 96970930

Indian male, 24 yrs, MBA in HR/

Marketing. More than 1 years experi-

enced in retail Banking (Axis Bank)

Presently in family visit in Oman

seeking for a suitable placement

Contact : 99892082 / 997 43 709

Indian female having ten years ex-

perience as cook. South Indian, Guja-

rathi special. Contact:: 94224512

A female with a B.Sc Business

Management Degree, specialized in

Human Resource Management cur-

rently living in Sri Lanka seeking for

a suitable position in Oman.

# 9801 1529

INDIAN, B.E. MECHANICAL ENGI-

NEER, 2 yrs job experience in Oman

in pipeline fi eld, fl uent in English,

Gujarati, Hindi and Marathi, with

valid oman driving license (light),

searching for a new job.

Contact no-+968 92745691

ACC. AVAILABLE

Semi furnished room with Separate

T&B Split AC Wifi pref Filipino

or non cooking bachelor lady in

Boushar near Rehab Hotel RO.145/

mo incl W&E. Contact 99058225

1 room with attach toilet rent RO

120/- at Al Hail North.

Contact 97661432

Fully furnished bathroom attached

room in Darsait, sharing kitchen

RO 170/-. Contact 94052928

Fully furnished room with separate

toilet, equipped kitchen and big

terrace available for executive

bachelor from Nov.1s tin N. Gubrah.

Contact-- 95450250

Furnished single / sharing room

for Executive Bachelor at Rex Road.

Contact 92873832

Full furnished room available in

Al Amerat for lady or couple.

Contact 95628927

Independent rooms in Qurum /

Hail. Contact 95529970

Room with attached bath and

Kitchen in Ghala near Galfar offi ce

for family or executives.

Contact 99743709

One bedroom, hall, toilet, kitchen

available for South Indian family in

Al Ghubrah (near Lake Park).

Contact 99209160

Furnished single room with

bathroom, Al Khuwair area only for

ladies. Contact 96059431

Room for rent in Al Khuwair near Ibis

Hotel. RO 110. Contact 95124975

Sharing accommodation in Wadi

Kabir, vegetarian family / bachelor.

Contact 99877845

1 BR accommodation available

at Rex road, suitable for bachelors.

Contact 99889590

Executive room attached bath,

Mumtaz Area. Contact 93103337


DAILY GUIDESITUATION WANTEDCARGO

Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise with

Buffet, & Land Tours

Al- Ainain Marine Tours Contact-

98029602, 92808636

TOURS

TOURS

RENT A CAR

FOR HIRE

TRUCK FOR HIREIsuzu 10 ton cargo body truck

(2012 FVR) with UAE experienced driver

available for long term / short term rent.

Contact: 95346950

Cuplock System Scaff olding. Contact 99828343

We provide all heavy duty equip-

ment, tractor & trailers & all type

of trucks. Contact 97722507

Running truck wash for rent in

Ouhi Sunia Sohar. Serious people

can. Contact on 97864747

50 seater bus with PDO specifi ca-

tion for rent or lease.

Contact 99839898

TRANSPORTATION

TRANSPORTATION Transportation available.

Contact 95068976

Transportation. Contact 99542393

Transportation available. Contact

91062110

Transport. Contact 99664703

Transportation available from

Muttrah to Rusay1 and back.

Contact 93502627

Transportation. Contact

99508282

Transportation for women only

from Muscat area only. Contact

97007934 / 92629232


BUSINESS

BUSINESS Increase your income on commis-

sion basis with our landscaping &

gardening services provided for big,

small projects &

maintenance contracts.

Contact +968 99242207 Email:

[email protected]

NRI

One acre land suitable for build-

ing mall, villa, apartment, school,

farm house etc available for im-

mediate sale, 10 kms from Mysore

City Centre on Manandavady

Road-Direct selling from owner.

Contact 0091-8453205303

Looking for an experienced A/R

conditioner and deep freezer Tech-

nician to independently handle

a running refrigeration service

center in Kannur Kerala. Attractive

terms off ered. Please send CV to

vfi [email protected]

For Astrological consultation, Jathakam. Contact# 99860435 /

97102599

*Classifi ed Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. *

Subject to space availability

MANPOWER

Housemaid , driver/operator (heavy & light Gulf D/L), house boy, cleaner, all skilled and unskilled cat-

egories process, (embassy agreement

and immigration). Contact 95175192,

EMAIL. [email protected]




Transportation. Contact: 97897833

Transportation Available Contact:

97180655

GOOD NEWS

Ayurvedic treatment for backache,

paralysis, arthritis etc & massage,

All Season (Vaidyaratnam).

Contact 24475280 / 95371554 /

92504980 , www.siddhayur.com

Ayurvedic treatment for joint

pain, backache, paralysis massage,

steambath, obesity, spondylitis,

IDEAL CARE Ayuvedic Clinic,

18 November Street Azaiba.

Contact 99639695

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

Genuine Ayurvedic treatments

& massage, ayurvedic clinic at

Al Khuwair. Contact 24478618 /

97263637/ 93309131

We want to buy car workshop any

place in Oman or any other good

running business up to RO 20,000.

Please contact 99157377,




D8 M O N D AY, O C T O B E R 2 7, 2 0 1 4



CLASSES

WEBSITE

WEB, ERP and Business Intelli-

gence (BI) creation and man-

agement at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman

COMPUTER

SITUATION WANTEDSERVICES

GULF INTERNATIONAL LLC

all kind of pest control.#

92326955

We assist Buying / Selling / Renting

/ Empty Plots, Villa, Buildings, Open

Lands, Warehouses, Industrial Lands

on long and short term lease & Man-

agement of Properties. Kindly fax

us or email copy of your kurki with

contact details. Fax No . 24533348,


House Shifting. Contact 99708138

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing,

Contact 99314807/24792998

MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your

marble. Contact 24793614/

99314807

Services for contract for all mainte-

nance works like painting, plumbing,

electrical, tiles, construction of shed

and netting for ceiling etc.

Contact 98518983

For All Your Maintenance Solutions,

A/c Servicing & Fixing, Painting,

Cleaning, Electric.

Contact No. 99002390

For all your maintenance needs in-

cluding, Painting, Plumbing, Electric-

ity, Laying of Interlock Tiles, Marbles

etc. Tel: 99383574 Mr Chandran

Building, Contract, Maintenance,

Cleaning, Loading, Décor, Electri-

cal, Import. Contact 93978720

Civil Maintenance, Painting Elec-

tric, Plumbing, Decor, Tile Fixing,

Lecithin Copra Board fl at stifl ing ,

Carpet Cleaning and A/C Servicing.

Contact 97897831 (Indian keralite)

House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422

Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles

polishing, carpet shampooing,

maintenance. Contact ABU QA-

BAS- 99320217 /24788722

Split & window A/C servicing &

repairing. Contact 99557080

A.M Trading Pest control.Contact 99067923

Pest Control Treatments, termites,

Cockroaches & Rodents. Ocean

Center LLC 99344723

Painting Interlock plumbing

maintenance. Contact 92142319

For HT cable jointing and

termination works 33KV/11KV.

Contact 99056438 /


Water proofi ng ABUQABAS-

Contact 99320217/24788722

Door to Door Computers repair

specialist laptop software

Website cartridges.

Contact 99199376

Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles

polishing, carpet shampooing,

maintenance. Contact ABU QA-

BAS- 99320217 /24788722

Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile

polishing, pest control & anti-ter-

mite treatment, general cleaning

painting, Plumbing, Electrical,

shifting. Contact Mundhir

Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C. #

24810137, 99450130

Cleaning service, carpet and sofa

shampooing, marble restoration and

polishing, pest control, fogging ser-

vice. Contact 99448057 / 95401996

Learn Driving from professional

instructors. Contact 94022250

Learn driving automatic from

scratch. Contact 98599675

DRIVING

SERVICES

Civil maintenance, Electrical &

Plumbing work. Contact 99557080 /

96236476

Truck body making, Misfah

Industrial Area. Contact 92326955.

BRIDGE GULFA LLC

Civil maintenance, Electrical &

Plumbing work. Contact 99557080 /

96236476

Electrical Plumbing Painting

Contract and Maintenance.

Contact 98456535

Waterproofi ng, light weight Screed,

Antitermite and MS Fabrication.

Contact 92888337

Waterproofi ng, light weight Screed,

Antitermite and MS Fabrication.

Contact 92888337

Catering services We do industrial

catering service, Canteen/ mess,

3 times packed meals,

and all types of catering events.

Contact 92188777/

99249899

Window & split unit A/C servicing

& maintenance. Contact 96236476

Carpet & Sofa Shampooing services.

Ocean Center LLC 92682970

MATRIMONIAL

31 yrs, girl, B.Sc MLT, MBA working

in Muscat invite proposals from

professionally qualifi ed & well

educated boys from Syrian Christian

Pentacoastal / born again family.

Contact +968-96437737

Keralite RC girl 5/2 GNM Nurse,

27 seeks suitable alliance.

Contact 98335340

Bismillah - Marriage proposal

invited for a Sunni Muslim girl

belongs to Hyderabad -India and

working in Ministry of Health oman.

Please send details on :

[email protected]

Alliance invited from parents of

working girls in Muscat for a young

Kerala boy, fair, good looking

(H-164 cm) working as

Draughtsman in Muscat.

Contact 93033079.

Mail : [email protected]

Suitable alliance invited from

professionally qualifi ed boys for

Christian Jacobite girl, B.Tech 25

years, 162 cm presently working in

Kerala hailing from Ernakulam.

Contact 99808584,

0091 9447140806

Mangalore Sunni Muslim, seek-

ing suitable bride (preferably from

Dakshina Kannada) for their son

working as Logistics Manager.

Contact 92198085

Split & window A/C servicing &

maintenance.Contact 93769089

Times of Oman

Documents

tropical storm

e degree

n degree

south masirah island

coordinates of masirah

severe cyclonic storm

government authorities

ing cautious