Oman secures release of Iranian diplomat

MUSCAT — The Iranian diplomat Nasratallah Tajik, who was released after successful mediation by Oman as per the directives of HisMajesty Sultan Qaboos in response to an Iranian request, arrived in Muscat yesterday. The diplomat was in custody in Britain since 2006.

 

The Foreign Ministry issued the following press statement: “Upon the directives of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos to meet Iranian request to assist in releasing the Iranian diplomat Nasratallah Tajik from custody in Britain since 2006, the competent authorities in the Sultanate, in co-ordination with the British and American sides found a solution to the issue and succeeded in his repatriation to his home country on humanitarian grounds.
“The Sultanate, upon the success of its humanitarian efforts, would like to express its sincere thanks and utmost appreciation to the British and American governments for their response and welcomes the Iranian diplomat on his way back to his home country, and wishes that this would contribute in achieving stability in the region.”

Earlier in August this year, Oman has secured the release of an Iranian woman held in the United States. — ONA

Source : http://main.omanobserver.om/node/134053

Sultan of Oman

Source : Wikipedia

Qaboos bin Said al Said

Qaboos bin Said Al Said (Arabic: قابوس بن سعيد آل سعيد‎ Qābūs bin Saʿīd ʾĀl Saʿīd; born 18 November 1940) is the Sultan of Oman and its Dependencies. He rose to power after overthrowing his father, Said bin Taimur, in a palace coup in 1970. He is the 14th-generation descendant of the founder of the Al Bu Sa'idi dynasty.

Early life

Sultan Qaboos bin Sa‘id was born in Salalah in Dhofar on 18 November 1940. He is the only son of Sultan Said bin Taimur and princess Mazoon al-Mashani. He received his primary and secondary education at Salalah and Pune, India and was sent to a private educational establishment in England at age sixteen.^[3] At 20 he entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. After graduating from Sandhurst, he joined the British Army and was posted to the 1st Battalion The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), serving in Germany for one year. He also held a staff appointment with the British Army.

After his military service, Sultan Qaboos studied local government subjects in England and, after a world tour, returned home to Salalah where he studied Islam and the history of his country.

[edit]Rise to power

For six years prior to Said bin-Taymur's overthrow, Qaboos experienced virtual house-arrest in the Royal Palace of Salalah. In July 1970, soldiers supporting Qaboos clashed with forces loyal to Said bin-Taymur and deposed him. Qaboos maintains that his father abdicated the throne.^[4] The British government helped to consolidate Qaboos' power.

Qaboos acceded to the throne on 23 July 1970 after deposing his father in a palace coup with the aim of ending the country's isolation and using its oil revenue for modernization and development,^[5] moving to Muscat. There he declared that the country would no longer be known as Muscat and Oman, but would change its name to "the Sultanate of Oman" in order to better reflect its political unity.

The first pressing problem that Qaboos bin Said faced as Sultan was an armed communist insurgency from South Yemen, the Dhofar Rebellion (1965–1975). The Sultanate eventually defeated the incursion with help from the Shah of Iran, Jordanian troops sent from his friend King Hussein of Jordan, British Special Forces, and the Royal Air Force.

[edit]Reign as Sultan

Styles of The Sultan of Oman
Reference style	His Majesty
Spoken style	Your Majesty
Alternative style	Sire

Sultan Qaboos meets with United States Vice President Dick Cheney during his visit to the Middle East in 2002.

The political system which Qaboos established is that of an absolute monarchy. Unlike the situation in neighbouring Saudi Arabia, Qaboos' decisions are not subject to modification by other members of Oman's royal family. Government decisions are said to be made through a process of decision-making by "consensus" with provincial, local and tribal representatives, though critics allege that Qaboos exercises de facto control of this process.^{[citation needed]} Qaboos also regularly engages in tours of his realm, in which any citizen with a grievance or request is allowed to appeal to the Sultan in person.^[6]

More recently, Qaboos has allowed parliamentary elections (in which women have voted and stood as candidates) and pledged greater openness and participation in government. The parliament enjoys legislative and oversight powers.^[7] In 1979 Oman was the only Arab state to recognize Egyptian President Anwar Sadat's peace agreement with Israel.^[8]

Qaboos' supporters point to his relative success in governing the country. By Gulf standards, Oman boasts good public order,^[9] middlingprosperity,^[10] and a relatively permissive society.^[11] Since he acceded to the throne, Oman has broadened international relations, allowed newspapers, established high schools, built highways, opened hotels and shopping malls and spends a substantial portion of its dwindling oil revenues on health care and education.^[4]

In September 1995, he was involved in a car accident in Salalah just out side his palace, which claimed the life of one of his most prominent and influential ministers and his right hand man, Qais Bin Abdul Munaim Al Zawawi.

In October 1998, Qaboos bin Said was presented with the International Peace Award by the National Council on US-Arab Relations.^[12] He also forges and maintains good relations with other Arab states and partners in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).^[13]

Oman's Former Deputy Finance Minister featured in Business Today

Mohammed Saleh Ali Al Ajmi is a Omani businessman and philanthropist, and former deputy finance minister of Oman.

Mohammed Saleh Ali Al Ajmi shuns public exposure and is known to maintain a low profile for a person of his stature.

Important Roles :

Deputy Finance Minister of Oman (1998 - 2005)
Organizer of "Oman Lab Expo 2010"
Official Delegate for "Oman Investment Corporation"

Website : http://www.omaninvcorp.com/new/default.aspx

Video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lrt38m_gVqw

Mohammed Saleh Ali Al Ajmi

Oman Royal Guard

Mohammed Saleh Ali Al Ajmi (2nd from left)

Mohammed Saleh Ali Al Ajmi (1st left)

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_of_Oman

New Council of Ministers in Oman

Sayyid Fahd Bin Mahmoud Al Saeed, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers
Sayyid Haitham Bin Tariq Al Saeed, Minister of Heritage and Culture
Sayyid Khalid Bin Hilal Bin Saud Al Busaidi, Minister of Diwan of Royal Court
Lt.Gen Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Nu'amani, Minister of Royal Office
Sayyid Badr Bin Saud Al Busaidi, Minister Responsible For Defence
Sayyid Hamoud Bin Faisal Al Busaidi, Minister of Interior
Yousuf Bin Alawi Bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs
Sheikh Abdulmalik bin Abdullah bin Ali Al Khalili, formerly Minister of Tourism, Minister of Justice, wef 1st March 2012
Darwish Bin Ismail Bin Ali Al Balushi, Minister Responsible for Financial Affairs
Shaikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Salami, Minister of Awqaf & Religious Affairs
Dr.Mohammed bin Hamad al Rumhi, Minister of Oil and Gas

Dr Abdulmun’em bin Mansour bin Said Al Hasani, Minister of Information wef 1st March 2012
Dr Rawiyah Bint Saud Al Busaidiyah, Minister of Higher Education
Eng.Ali Bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, formerly Minister of Sports Affairs, becomes Minister of Commerce and Industry wef 1st March 2012
Sayyid Mohammed bin Sultan bin Hamoud Al Busaidi, Minister of State and Governor of Dhofar wef 1st March 2012
Saif Bin Mohammed Al Shabibi, Minister of Housing
Abdullah Bin Nasser bin Abdullah Al Bakri, Minister of Manpower
Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Obaid al Sa'eedi, Minister of Health
Madeeha Bint Ahmed bin Nassir Al Shibaniyah, Minister of Education
Ahmed Bin Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Sahi, Minister Regional Municipality and Water Resources
Dr Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Salem Al Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communications
Shaikh Khalid Bin Omar Bin Saeed Al Marhoon, Minister of Civil Service
Shaikh Saad Bin Mohammed Al Saadi, formerly Minister of Commerce and Industry, becomes Minister of Sports Affairs wef 1st March 2012
Sayyid Soud Bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Minister of State and Governor of Muscat
Dr Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Saeed Al Saeedi, Minister of Legal Affairs
Ahmed bin Nasser bin Hamad Al Mehrzi, Minister of Tourism wef 1st March 2012
Fuad Bin Jaffer Bin Mohammed Al sajwani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries
Mohammed Salem Al Tobi, Minister for Environment and Climate Affairs
Shaikh Mohammed Bin Saeed Al Kalbani, Minister of Social Development

Lt. Gen Hassan bin Mohsen bin Salim Al Shraiqi, Inspector-General of Police and Customs with rank of minister by Royal Decree 40/2011, 13th March 2011
Sheikh Hilal bin Hamoud bin Hamad Al Ma’amari transferred to the Foreign Ministry and granted minister rank, by Royal Decree 13/ 2012, 1st March 2012
Nasser Bin Hilal Al Maawli as Chairman of State Audit of Institute with rank of Minister.
Dr Rashid Fatih Al Huraibi as the Tender Board Chairman with the rank of Minister.
Mohsin Bin Mohammed Al Shaikh advisor Diwan of Royal Court with Ministerial rank.
Abdul Malik Bin Zaher Al Hinai as advisor Ministry Finance

Two Undersectetaries appointed:
Hamd Al Aufi appointed as Undersecretary for Fisheries.
Ishaq Al Ruqiasi appointed as Undersecretary for Agriculture
Eng. Khalid bin Hilal bin Saud Al Busaidi as undersecretary of the Interior Ministry wef 1st March 2012
Eng. Saif bin A’mir bin Sulaiman Al Shaqsi as undersecretary of the Housing Ministry wef 1st March 2012
Shaikh Fadhjil Bin Mohammed Al Harthi, Secretary-General to the Council of Ministers

Oman Cricket invites teams for knockout tourney

Muscat: Oman Cricket invites teams registered for the 2012/2013 League Tournament who are interested in participating in the Senior, Intermediate and Junior Cup to confirm their participation to the Oman Cricket Office latest by Sunday, December 23.

The Senior Cup will comprise of all A Division teams whilst the Intermediate Cup will be made up of teams from B to E Division and the Junior Cup will consist of teams from F and G Divisions.

The Senior Cup will be played on a League format while the Intermediate and Junior Cup will be conducted on a knock-out basis. Matches will be played on a T20 format. The following teams have confirmed their participation.

Senior Cup - A Division Teams: Muscat, Al Turki NMC, Assarain A, Enhance, Passage to India, Times of Oman A, Arabian Industries. Intermediate Cup – B to E Division Teams: OCT Muscat A, Sinha, Renaissance, Al Hail, OCT Seeb, Starslight, Galfar, PDORC, Ernst & Young, L&T Electromech, Enhance Eagles, Powertech, Muscat Duty Free, OCT Al Hail, Carillion Alawi, Moosa Abdul Rahman                                

Hassan, Mott Macdonald, Atkins.

Junior Cup - F to G Division Teams: Times of Oman B, OCT Al Amerat, Assarain B, Tile Marine, Landscape Architecture, Oasis Water, Al Rehwan, Bank Muscat, Al Hashim Projects LLC, Al Nahdha Overseas, Uday Khimji International, Rukun Al Yaqeen, OCT Muscat B and Al Ahli Bank.

Source : http://www.timesofoman.com/News/Article-4109.aspx

Developing world loses $6tr in dirty money

Washington: Crime, corruption and tax evasion have cost the developing world nearly $6 trillion over the past decade, and illicit funds keep growing, led by China, a financial watchdog group said in a new report.

China accounted for almost half of the $858.8 billion in dirty money that flowed into tax havens and Western banks in 2010, more than eight times the amounts for runner-ups Malaysia and Mexico. Total illicit outflows increased by 11 per cent from the prior year, Global Financial Integrity (GFI), a Washington-based group that campaigns for financial accountability, said in its latest report released on.

"Astronomical sums of dirty money continue to flow out of the developing world and into offshore tax havens and developed country banks," said Raymond Baker, director of GFI. "Developing countries are haemorrhaging more and more money at a time when rich and poor nations alike are struggling to spur economic growth. This report should be a wake-up call to world leaders that more must be done to address these harmful outflows," he said.

All the countries in the top 10, which this year saw India, Nigeria, the Philippines and Nigeria join the ranks, face significant problems with corruption, and in most there are vast gaps between rich and poor citizens as well as internal security problems.

Leaders of the Group of 20 major economies increasingly are focusing on ways to crack down on money laundering, bank secrecy and tax loopholes to prevent funds stolen from public coffers or earned through criminal activity from depleting the budgets of developing countries.

Methodology
The sums are so huge that for every dollar in foreign direct aid, $10 leaves developing countries. China lost $420.4 billion in 2010 and over the decade lost a total of $2.74 trillion. And its losses are steadily rising. In an October report, GFI said another $602 billion in illicit flows left China in 2011 for a total of $3.79 trillion between 2000-11.

However, the numbers in the latest report are not directly comparable with earlier data because GFI has updated its methodology, making the estimates somewhat more conservative. It measures illicit flows by calculating the difference between fund inflows from loans and net foreign direct investment, and the outflows from a country to pay for trade, cash transfers and other earnings.

Aware of the destabilising impact of corrupt money, Chinese leaders are embarking on a crackdown. Outgoing                                    

President Hu Jintao recently warned corruption threatens to destroy the communist party and the state. In Russia, President Vladimir Putin last week also put the issue high on his agenda as citizen protests over corruption mount.

"Our report continues to demonstrate that the Chinese economy is a ticking time bomb," said Dev Kar, GFI's lead economist, who compiled the report. "The social, political and economic order in that country is not sustainable in the long run given such massive illicit outflows."

Mexico lost $51.17 billion in illicit flows in 2010 for a total of $476 billion over the last decade, which does not even count the billions of dollars in bulk cash that probably left under organised crime and drug dealing. Malaysia, an export-dominated economy with a wealthy elite, lost $64.38 billion in 2010 and $285 billion cumulatively between 2001 and 2010, the report said.

Globalisation of finance
Illicit financial flows have grown by 13.3 per cent a year since 2001, robbing countries of wealth and benefiting a handful of corrupt leaders. Kar said the worsening picture over the past decade coincides with the globalisation of finance and loosening of capital controls, changes that make it easier to transfer funds to Western banks and to tax havens.

GFI called on world leaders to accelerate efforts to curtail the flow of dirty money by clamping down on secret bank accounts and ownership of shell companies; reforming customs and trade protocols so that export/import payments cannot be used to hide illegal fund transfers; requiring multinational companies to report their profits by country to prevent tax avoidance; and strongly enforcing anti money-laundering laws.

Source : http://www.timesofoman.com/News/Article-4100.aspx

Top lawyer quits legal association

Muscat: Protesting against Omani Lawyers Association's "failure" in resolving the cellphone ban issue, Khalifa Al Hinai, a former judge and a senior member of the association, yesterday resigned from the body.

The decision
"The Muscat Appeals Court's move to deny permission for lawyers to carry cellphones and handbags inside the court premises is embarrassing. Moreover, the association is seen as being unsuccessful in resolving this issue. If they can't resolve it, I don't want to be a part of them. The court's move is an embarrassing situation for the entire lawyers' fraternity," Khalifa told
Times of Oman.

On Saturday, Muscat Appeals Court in Al Khuwair had denied lawyers the permission to carry cellphones and handbags inside court premises, after a video recording (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6JUCjvAeN4) of last Wednesday's court hearing on wrongful gathering case surfaced on Youtube.

Frisking lawyers
Since Saturday onwards, the lawyers are being frisked and are not being allowed to carry cellphones and handbags inside the court. Earlier, the public were not allowed to carry cellphones inside court, but lawyers were allowed.

"Earlier, it was visitors who were also not allowed to carry cellphones inside the
court premises.

"But after this incident, lawyers are also being frisked while entering courtroom," Sumaiya Al Balushi, a lawyer, told Times of Oman on Sunday.       

Source : http://www.timesofoman.com/News/Article-3980.aspx