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TU ESDAY, DECEMB ER 15, 2015
OMAN
These kinds of exhibitions help in knowing other countries’ culture and heritage Sayyida Alia bint Thuwaini Al Said
HM honour conferred on officers for dedicated duty
BOOSTING TIES
Majlis, Iraqi Council discuss cooperation MUSCAT: A meeting of Majlis Al Shura and the Iraqi Council of Representatives was held on Monday, where they discussed the means of supporting the consultative cooperation between the two countries at all levels, particularly in the legislative areas. The Omani side was led by Khalid bin Hilal Al Ma’awali, Chairman of the Majlis Al Shura and the Iraqi side was led by Dr. Saleem Al Jabouri, Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives.
ROYAL HONOUR: Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Harib Al Busaidi, Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs, congratulated the officers and personnel for the honour. – ONA
The Royal commendation medals were conferred at Bait Al Falaj Camp
MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, conferred the excellent service and Royal commendation medals on commissioned and non-commissioned officers and personnel of the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF), and other departments at the Ministry of Defence and the Royal Guard of Oman (RGO), in appreciation for their dedication
ASSIGNED BY HIS MAJESTY
in serving their country and carrying out the sacred duty. The excellent service and Royal commendation medals were conferred at Bait Al Falaj Camp on Monday by Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Harib Al Busaidi, Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs. Sayyid Badr congratulated the officers and personnel for this Royal honour. He urged them to
exert more efforts to develop this dear country under the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. The medals presentation ceremony was attended by Mohammed bin Nasser Al Rasbi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Defence, Lt.Gen Ahmed bin Harith Al Nabhani, SAF Chief of Staff, Maj.Gen Mattar bin Salim Al Balushi, Commander of the Royal
Army of Oman (RAO), Air Vice Marshal Mattar bin Ali Al Obaidani, Commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO), Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Khamis Al Ra’eesi, Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO), Maj. Gen Khalifa bin Abdullah Al Junaibi, RGO Commander and Maj. Gen Salim bin Musallam Qatan, Commandant of the National Defence College (NDC). -ONA
Cooperation The session was attended from the Omani side by Rashid bin Ahmed Al Shamsi, Deputy Chairman of the Majlis Al Shura, Mohammed bin Abu Bakr Al Ghassani, Deputy Chairman of the Majlis Al Shura, members of the Majlis Al Shura Office and Sheikh Ali bin Nassir Al Mahrouqi, Secretary General of the Majlis. The Iraqi guest and his accompanying delegation also toured the Council of Oman. Dr. Saleem al-Jabouri, Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives and his accompanying delegation arrived on an official two-day visit to the Sultanate. -ONA
TURKISH PRODUCTS
Holy Quran contest winners honoured MUSCAT: Assigned by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Salmi, Minister of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, on Monday patronized over the honouring ceremony of the winners of the 25th edition of Sultan Qaboos Holy Quran Memorization Competition. The ceremony was attended by His Eminence Sheikh Ahmed bin Hamad Al Khalili, Grand Mufti of the Sultanate, ministers, undersecretaries and judges. The competition aims at urging the Omanis to memorise the Holy Quran, learning from its
lessons and meanings, preparing excellent reciters of the Holy Quran and enhancing the Sultanate’s presence at the international competitions for the Holy Quran memorisation. Habib bin Mohammed Al Riyami, Secretary General of the Sultan Qaboos Higher Centre for Culture and Science (SQHCCS), said that the 25th edition of the competition witnessed a qualitative shift in terms of increasing number of the registered competitors that rose to 100 per cent compared to the previous competitions. -ONA FOR THE BENEFIT OF CHILDREN: Most of the items exhibited at the Turkish Charity Bazaar have been brought by the Embassy from
various art centres in Turkey. – Mohammed Ali
Turkish Embassy opens charity exhibition Staff Reporter MUSCAT: A two-day charity exhibition titled the Turkish Charity Bazaar was opened by the embassy of the Republic of Turkey yesterday, in the premises of the Omani Women’s Association. The exhibition was inaugurated by Her Highness Sayyida Alia bint Thuwaini Al Said. Culture and heritage “These kinds of exhibitions help in knowing other countries’ culture and heritage. This is one way
to know what other countries produce,” Sayyida Alia told the Times of Oman. “I have been to Turkey before but I have never seen these types of items here. They (Turkish Embassy) are doing an amazing thing, moreover it’s for charity,” she added. Charity Bazaar Unique Turkish products, such as handicrafts, textiles, silverware and foodstuff were displayed and being sold at the Charity Bazaar. Most of the items exhibited have been brought by the Embassy
from various art centres in Turkey. According to the Embassy officials, the revenue from this event will go to the benefit of children in need. Sayyida Alia reiterated that such exhibitions should be encouraged to identify the needy in different countries. “I encourage having more of such exhibitions from different culture so that we get to know about that country,” she said. She also added that after attending the exhibition, she has decided to visit the country again.
Raffle draw A raffle draw will be held at the end of the event for the visitors of the exhibition. The winners will be awarded a Muscat-Istanbul round trip for two persons via Turkish Airlines. Many voucher tickets from reputed brands in Muscat will be also distributed among the raffle draw winners. The Charity Bazaar can be visited between 10:30am and 8pm. Many officials from other friendly countries, as well as special guests of the Turkish Embassy, attended the ceremony.
REVENUE DIPS
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Mwasalat hits orange taxi business
Some drivers do illegal acts in the cabs which would put the country’s reputation on the line but due to them decent drivers face problems, Al Jardani said. “If there had been a governing body for taxis, we would have complained against a driver for any wrongdoing but there isn’t one,” said Al Jardani. “What we do is confront the driver and warn him about his actions and his usual reply is ‘it is my car, and I will do as I like’,” added Al Jardani. One of the requests that taxi drivers are making is the designation of parking areas or stations for taxis in the Wilayats of Muscat, Barka, Bidbid, Samail and Quriyat. There are only three locations in Muscat for taxi parking: Muttrah Corniche, Souq A’Seeb and Mabellah. “We’ve been asking for parking areas for years. We need specific station for taxi drivers as it is our dream for passengers to get in the taxi comfortably just like any
how to counter the problem if the government does not act for the welfare of their citizens. “There is a lot of competition, especially when Mwasalat came into the picture. I used to make OMR30 a day from Wadi Kabir to Ruwi before Mwasalat, now I’m lucky to make OMR3 a day. I haven’t had work for 5 days now,” said Sami Al Hadhrami, a distraught taxi driver.
STIFF COMPETITION: ONTC charges 300 baizas to transport
passengers from Ruwi to Mabellah, while minibuses and saloons charge 800 and 900 baizas respectively. – Supplied photo
other country in the world,” said Al Jardani. “We have been prevented from parking in Ruwi near OK Center, in organised parking lanes. Now
there is a sign that says no parking at anytime,” he further added. The orange taxis are being possibly driven out of the business at the moment and one must wonder
Insurance payment “We are considering selling our taxis to pay off our insurance and feed our family,” he added, saying that the average insurance cost for minibuses are about OMR1,200. Dr Nithin RS, CEO of Axis group of companies, suggested one solution would be to give free insurance and registration to all taxis and then utilise the taxi body space for private advertisement on monthly/per taxi rates which can be charged to private companies as an additional income to Government.