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Oman   Editor: Sue Hutton
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Nato peace vow

9:53 AM Mar 9th
• "Nato Secretary -General Anders Fogh Rasmussen last night urged Oman and Saudi Arabia to join its Istanbul Co-operation Initiative (ICI) to give more impetus to the military alliance's efforts to promote peace in the region." …full story

Renaissance net profit rises by 33.2%

5:42 PM Mar 7th
• "Renaissance Services has achieved revenues RO248 million ($643 million) in 2009, up from RO234 million in 2008, while net profit after tax is at RO28.5 million ($74 million), up from RO26.2 million in the preceding year." …full story

Oman%u2019s Mobile Subscribers Up by 20%

4:17 PM Mar 7th
• The number rose to 3,964,666 from 3,219,349 in 2008, up 23.2 per cent. Pre-paid users totalled 3,605,922, while post-paid subscribers were at 358,744.
• Subscribers of Internet services offered by Omantel stood at 78,135, compared to 80,167 the previous year, a 2.5 per cent decline. …full story

Iran signs security deals with three Gulf states

4:14 PM Mar 7th
• "The Iranian defence minister said that the bilateral pacts with Qatar, Oman and Kuwait stipulated that these states will not allow their territories to be used for attacks against either Iran or any of the other signatories." …full story

Jewel of Muscat makes slow progress

4:10 PM Mar 7th
• Replica of old Omani sailing dhow making voyage to Singapore. Demonstrating how Omani sailors navigated the Indian Ocean …full story

Royal Decree 22/2010 Oman appoints new Minister of Health

1:28 PM Mar 7th
• Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Obaid Al Sa%u2019eedi replaces Dr Ali bin Mohammed bin Moosa who becomes Chairman of the Tender Board …full story

Good news, bad news from Oman

1:08 PM Mar 7th
• Filipinos still in demand in Oman for "their good work habits, pleasing personality, and sunny disposition in life [ ] traits most valued in the service-oriented establishments like hotels, parlors, restaurants, shopping centers, and coffee shops."
• Expat workers without valid visas must leave Oman by March 31st …full story

Oman launches first chrome ore concentrator plant

4:56 PM Feb 26th
• "raw lumpy ore will be crushed and cleaned before being subject to various processes to yield a rich chrome concentrate. The final product will be shipped via Sohar, Muscat or Jebel Ali (UAE) to export markets in China and India" …full story

Call for stricter penalties on dangerous driving in Oman

4:11 PM Feb 26th
• high rate of traffic accidents attributed to reckless driving and excessive speed …full story

Tour of Oman helps cross a cultural divide

5:41 PM Feb 19th
• "More importantly the race sparked a cycling-inspired cultural exchange. The local people enjoyed seeing professional cycling for the first time, while everyone on the race discovered the Oman people's friendly nature and desire to develop as a nation." …full story

Oman%u2019s Blue City project falters

3:44 AM Feb 19th
• rumours have abounded for many months that Blue City was coming unstuck, all denied vehemently by senior managers. Now it looks as if the writing may be on the wall …full story

Brand Oman

6:31 PM Feb 18th
• PR bid from hotel managers in Oman - desirable tourist destination …full story

Al Qaeda field commander captured in Oman

3:18 AM Feb 16th
• Original title: Jihadist Web sites warn al Qaeda leaders of possible exposure
• First reported in Newsweek …full story

Exclusive offers from Muriya at Jebel Sifah and Salalah

5:58 PM Feb 15th
• Properties offered for sale to both expats (therefore these are designated tourist zones) and nationals.
• Muriya was established in 2006 when Egypt%u2019s Orascom Hotels and Development (with 70 per cent stake) and Omani government owned Omran (with 30 per cent stake) came together in a joint venture. …full story

Oman Observer: By Conrad Prabhu MUSCAT — The Ministry of Oil and Gas plans

4:36 PM Feb 15th
• Oman Observer: By Conrad Prabhu MUSCAT — The Ministry of Oil and Gas plans to invite bids for a total of 11 new hydrocarbon concessions during 2010 in one of the largest ever offerings announced by the government to date. Up for grabs is a mix of oil and gas blocks, some …full story

Prisoner serving life term blames harsh conditions for arson

3:46 PM Feb 14th
• "An Omani serving life sentence for arson at Bur Dubai police station in 2001 said he was not involved in starting the fire." …full story

Oman, Brunei discuss fish farming, processing

3:39 PM Feb 14th
• UAE about to lease 100,000 hectares in Indonesia for food supply …full story

Tour of Oman, Stage 1: Ballan Most Aggressive

3:31 PM Feb 14th
• Dangerous racing in the dark. Comment that it was safer to ride in the bunch rather than forge ahead. Spectators didn't realise the speed at which the cyclists were travelling …full story

Tour of Oman kicks off

3:23 PM Feb 14th
• Photos of the cyclists taking part in the Tour of Oman …full story

RAK drug traffickers sentenced to death by firing squad

5:02 PM Feb 12th
• One Omani and four Pakistanis convicted of smuggling 2kg heroin and 1kg hashish …full story

Elaborate plans to beautify Muscat City and Muttrah

4:53 PM Feb 12th
• Will 'beautification' involve further removal of authenticity of these old established centres? Hardly anything left of old Muscat now …full story

Kids as young as 15 getting hooked to tombak!

4:46 PM Feb 12th
• Tombak is the variety of tobacco used in shisha, or hookah, pipes …full story

Aggreko signs $75m Oman, Panama deal

9:57 AM Feb 11th
• Glasgow based firm supplies short-term and emergency power to national grids and utilities.
• The deal with Oman Power and Water Procurement Company, will see Aggreko supply 115MW across five sites in the Arab sultanate during the summer months. …full story

Wildlife lovers urged to visit Oman in June

9:54 AM Feb 11th
• Oman? in June? You've got to be joking with temperatures touching 40C. Besides, we can see dolphins of the coast of the British Isles …full story

Frankincense: Could it be a cure for cancer?

2:01 PM Feb 9th
• Best frankincense comes from southern Oman, but very little is produced there these days. The Catholic Church buys Somalian frankincense.
• An immunologist is investigating claims that frankincense can control or cure cancer …full story

BMI Bank outlook revised to negative on weakening asset quality and financial performance

1:55 PM Feb 9th
• Standard & Poor's Ratings Services revised its outlook on BMI Bank BSC to negative from stable. At the same time, it affirmed the 'BBB-' long-term and 'A-3' short-term counterparty credit ratings on the bank.
• BMI is 49% owned and controlled by BankMuscat SAOG. (BBB /Stable/A-2), which is itself ultimately controlled by the Sultanate of Oman (A/Stable/A-1). …full story

OGWA 2010 attracts large number of international oil and gas companies

1:50 PM Feb 9th
• Oil and Gas West Asia (OGWA) Exhibition and Conference will be held in Muscat from April 11-13, 2010 …full story

Muscat Street makeover in Singapore

1:48 PM Feb 9th
• "Located just behind Sultan Mosque, Muscat Street is about 200m long and is shorter than other streets in the Kampong Glam area. There are only three shops located on it, a far cry from the bustling eateries and shops that dot the neighbouring streets.
• But Muscat Street may just receive a makeover courtesy of Oman. During Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong's recent visit to the country, his hosts said that their country wanted to do something with the street named after the Omani capital." …full story

Oman Roadshow

1:41 PM Feb 9th
• tourism article published in New Zealand and Australia …full story

1993 blasts accused Hamza held in Mumbai

3:50 PM Feb 8th
• Hamza was arrested in Mumbai on February 3rd, when he returned to India from Oman, where he had been living …full story

Iran sets up fund to finance oil ventures

3:40 PM Feb 8th
• Iran has invited its Gulf neighbours, with whom it shares oil and gas fields, to subscribe to its newly created National Energy fund, since Western investors are pulling out …full story

Amnesty for expats in Oman to be extended, says Tharoor

3:32 PM Feb 8th
• Indian minister for external affairs gets assurance that Indian nationals illegally in Oman will have more time to get affairs in order …full story

Exit strategies for family business

3:14 PM Feb 8th
• More than 80 per cent of businesses in the Middle East are family-run or family-owned, with an estimated $1 trillion expected to be handed down to the next generation within the next five to 10 years, and with family businesses controlling over 90 per cent of commercial activity in the region, as opposed to 65 to 80 per cent in other parts of the world, the dynamic and effect of their progression and development is huge.
• However with studies showing that historically, family businesses are eventually run down after three generations, we may be at a point where many family businesses will need to start looking around for exit strategies or even welcome new turnaround ideas to keep them afloat. …full story

Oman Electricity gears up to meet increasing demand

3:11 PM Feb 8th
• The Wave Muscat will have its own transformer station …full story

Royal Decrees 13/2010, 14/2010, 15/2010

3:09 PM Feb 8th
• Royal Decree No. 13/2010 considers Yanqul-Fida-Dhank road in Al Dhahirah a public utility project
• Royal Decree No. 14/2010 ratifies amendment to Arab Convention for Combating Terrorism
• Royal Decree No. 15/2010 ratifies the protocol for amending agreement on avoidance of double taxation and tax evasion for income tax and capital profits between the government of Sultanate of Oman and the UK of Great Britain and the Northern Ireland …full story

Tharoor pitches for Omani investment in India

3:05 PM Feb 8th
• Shashi Tharoor, Indian minister of state for external affairs, urged the Omani businessmen to make best use of the %u2018huge investment opportunity%u2019 available in India …full story

Women get training for 2011 Majlis Al Shura polls

3:02 PM Feb 8th
• 30 women who are potential candidates for the next Majlis ash Shura elections, attended a 3-day workshop to prepare them for interacting with the media.
• Tawasul was the organiser …full story

Omani high flyers pay price of boom and bust

4:20 PM Feb 7th
• Property crash puts brokers out of a job. Quotes some figures for property prices …full story

Tharoor visit to open new vistas

4:13 PM Feb 7th
• Shashi Tharoor is the Indian minister of state for foreign affairs …full story

Maqbool issues Mazyounah Free Zone regulations

4:10 PM Feb 7th
• Omanisation quota will be cut to 10% and will be subject to Labour Law …full story

Tharoor arrives with Indo-Omani trade on mind

11:27 AM Feb 6th
• "With India%u2019s bid to buy gas (LNG) from Iran yet to take any concrete shape, India%u2019s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shashi Tharoor during his three-day visit is expected to propose India%u2019s keenness to buy gas from Oman. Though the matter is scheduled to be taken up by Indian Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, Tharoor will take up the matter with the Government of Oman following postponement of Deora%u2019s visit" …full story

Almondz Global to tap FIIs for funds

10:05 AM Feb 6th
• The Oman-based private equity investor had entered into an agreement with Almondz Global to buy close to 15% stake in December 2007 when many brokers were on a fund-raising spree to take advantage of the then bullish market conditions. The stake was sold through preferential allotment of shares and warrants at Rs 85 then. …full story