SATURDAY August 20, 2016 16 Dhul Qa’ada 1437 AH
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MORE OMAN AIR FLIGHTS TO SALALAH
FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN
Due to high demand to and from Salalah, Oman Air will operate three extra flights from August 22 to 31, the airline tweeted on its official Twitter handle. Tickets can be booked online via omanair.com or by calling (968) 24531111, the tweet added. >A3
On the occasion of the 12th National Day, 1982
‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ We intend proclaiming 1983 as Omani Youth Year and that our next National Day shall be consecrated to our Youth.
Founded 1975 . Volume 41 No. 151 | 24 Pages . Baisas 200 . Subscription OMR63 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company | Chairman/Editor-in-Chief: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali | Printed & Published by Muscat Media Group
HUNGARY
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HM sends greetings
HM the Sultan issues four Royal Decrees
MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of greetings to Dr. Janos Ader, President of Hungary on his country’s National Day. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan expressed his sincere greetings and wishes to the president of Hungary and his country’s people. His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of congratulations to President Dr. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on the occasion of his country’s Independence Anniversary. >A3
MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said on Thursday issued four Royal decrees as follows: Royal Decree No. 39/2016 promulgates law on continuation of foreign accountancy and audit companies’ licences validity and exemption of Omani owners of such offices from the “full-time commitment” condition, after it had been presented before the Council of Oman. Article (1) enforces the provisions of the attached “Law on Foreign Accountancy and Audit Companies’ Licenses Validity and
Exemption of Omani Owners (of such offices) from the Full-time Commitment Condition”. Article (2) says that this decree shall be published in the Official Gazette. Royal Decree No. 40/2016 defines the prerogatives of the Ministry of Heritage and Culture and approves its organisational structure. Article (1) defines the powers and prerogatives of the Ministry of Heritage and Culture in accordance with Annex No. 1 attached to this decree.
Article (2) approves the Organisational Structure of the Ministry of Heritage and Culture in accordance with Annex No. 2 attached to this decree. Article (3) cancels Royal Decree No. 24/2005 and all that contradicts this decree or contravenes its provisions. Article (4) says that this decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and enforced on its date of issue. Royal Decree No. 41/2016 approves Oman’s joining the Convention on Combating Bribery of
Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions. Article (1) approves the Sultanate of Oman’s joining the abovementioned convention in accordance with the version attached to this decree. Article (2) instructs the departments concerned to deposit the relevant documents for joining the above-mentioned convention in accordance with its provisions. Article (3) says that this decree shall be published in the Official Gazette. Royal Decree No. 42/2016 rati-
fies the Agreement on Mutual Waiving of Visas for Holders of Diplomatic, Special and Service Passports signed by the Government of the Sultanate of Oman and the Government of the Russian Federation in Muscat on February 3, 2016. Article (1) ratifies the abovementioned agreement in accordance with the version attached to this decree. Article (2) says that this decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and enforced on its date of issue. -ONA
C E L E B R AT I O N
BUCKLE UP FOR ‘EXPRESS’ DRIVE TO DUBAI IN 2017 Stretching from Halban to Khatmat Milaha, the 265 kilometre road will have four lanes on
Mystery bash at the Chedi
each side and a four-metre island in between RAHUL DAS
rahuldas@timesofoman.com DEEBA HASAN
deeba@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: A wealthy industrialist has booked every room and suite at Muscat’s Chedi Hotel to celebrate his daughter’s wedding. The cost of block-booking the venue for the three-day function could be around OMR80,000 – and that’s just for the rooms. The hotel announced in an email to regular guests that the hotel would be unavailable between August 23 and 26, due to a “private function”. That function is the wedding of the daughter of one of Oman’s wealthiest technocrats and billionaire businessman. The family business employs more than 4,000 staff and works across government and private sectors.
The Chedi is one of the leading go-to destinations in Oman for tourists and locals alike. But those looking to book a room at the hotel in Muscat or to use their facilities will not be able to do so as the private event is being held from August 23 to 26. The hotel’s usual facilities will resume from the evening of August 26 by 6pm onwards. The hotel has sent out emails to its regular guests about the booking. The Chedi has 158 rooms in total and the usual rate per room is OMR93.6, inclusive of 17 per cent taxes per room per night, and breakfast. In addition to the rooms, it features 38 suites for OMR293 per room per night, inclusive of 17 per cent daily taxes and breakfast. >A3
MUSCAT: Driving to Dubai or to the Sohar port will become easier as travellers and commuters will be able to use the Al Batinah Expressway from as early as 2017, announced the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC). Last year, an 18-kilometre (km) section of the highway from Muscat to Wilayat Barka had opened and commuters from Barka saw a great improvement in the time taken for them to travel to work. One driver said he found it quite efficient to get to work, but when the road is completely finished, it will be better. “In the morning when I drive to work, the street is empty and it is easier to commute since the
was awarded late,” he said, adding that construction work is currently in full swing. When fully completed, the road will have a total length of 265 km, stretching from Halban to Khatmat Milaha in Wilayat Shinas, and will contain four lanes on each side with a fourmetre island in between. S Rao, who regularly drives to Sohar from Muscat, said, “Right now, it is a nightmare as it is just two lanes and too many vehicles on the road.” A national, who requested to remain anonymous added, “Driving to Dubai could become much easier since the road will be spacious enough for a comfortable drive.” “I believe the time taken to reach the Emirates will be cut short because of the road,” he added.
Puppies in search of home
OMAN
Ministry plans tourism road shows in India
DEEBA HASAN
deeba@timesofoman.com
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Looking to boost tourist traffic from India, the Ministry of Tourism plans to conduct a multi-city road show in India next month. >A3
WORLD
Trump’s campaign chairman resigns
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Paul Manafort resigned as chairman of Donald Trump’s US presidential campaign on Friday, days after he was effectively demoted by Trump . >A7
MARKET
Opec production freeze not so potent Even if Opec strikes a deal with Russia next month in Algiers to freeze oil production, success will mean a lot less than four months ago. >B1
Package 4 stretches 50 km from Wilayat Saham to Wilayat Sohar carrying on to package 5, which continues for 41 km to Wilayat Liwa. The official further stated, “Construction work for packages 2, 3, 4 and 5 is 30 per cent to 60 per cent complete.” Package 6, which is a 45 km stretch from Wilayat Liwa to Khatmat Milaha, includes 136 viaducts, two overpasses, four wadi crossing bridges and four intersections. “Work for this is 70 per cent complete and we hope that it will be completed this year as there are no problems,” said the official. He added that he hoped the packages will be completed in 2016. “Packages 2, 4 and 5 will be ready in the first quarter of 2017, while package 2 will be completed in the first half of 2017, since it
O M A N I PAW S R E S C U E
TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES
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main highway is always congested,” said Shabib Anwar, a local resident in Barka, who drives to Muscat every morning for work. “But at night it is mostly packed, with a group of young guys driving up and down the street, while some are parked on the side socialising with one another. I believe that when the whole expressway is done, it will make it easier to travel to and from Dubai,” added the Omani national. The Muscat-Barka section is part of package 1, which is a 45 km road from the Al Filaij roundabout in Wilayat Barka to Wilayat Rustaq. A senior official from MoTC said this package is 89 per cent complete. Package 2 covers a distance of 42 km between Wilayat Rustaq and Wilayat Suwaiq, while package 3 covers 46 km from Wilayat Suwaiq to Wilayat Saham.
Four champs emerge at National Sailing
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MUSCAT: Five orphaned puppies, who were found near the police station in Muttrah Souq, are up for adoption by the Omani Paws Rescue (OPR) group. “They were found all alone in Muttrah Souq by the police station officials. A girl, who adopted them from OPR last year found them and contacted me; she went back to try and see if the mum was around for two days, but she wasn’t,” Nada Al Moosa, founder of OPR told the Times of Oman. “The puppies are here with me until a long-term foster or forever home is found,” she added. Although Al Moosa had posted information on the Omani Paws Facebook page about the puppies two days ago, there haven’t been any serious adoption requests so far. “No serious adoption enquires yet and no proper foster homes yet, and that’s why I brought them home,” she explained. “There is another litter of seven at the new airport site, but we can’t take them as we don’t have “proper” long-term fosters.” The note on the Omani Paws
Facebook page said, “Five orphan puppies were brought to OPR last night they are at Capital Vets for now, we need FOSTER homes for them ASAP or unfortunately we have no choice but to let them go in peace!” There are four female and one male puppy, and foster homes are still needed for them. “The puppies are scared and they will need a foster where they get as much human contact
as possible and preferably have other dogs in the house or be fostered in couples,” the Facebook post added. “In different locations around Muscat, two puppies were rescued by gun shots, five were taken off the streets and seven are still near an office site. Two puppies were shot at the Wadi Kabir park and were brought to the clinic but didn’t survive,” said Krystal Brown, an animal rescue activist.