(Photos: Shameer)
A survey conducted in March among residents in the Arab world threw up a rather interesting finding. It’s one Oman can be truly proud of. If you’re happy and you know it, you’re more likely to be living in Buraimi.
The survey found that the residents of this sleepy little town bordering Al Ain in the UAE are the happiest people among those living in Arabia. (more)
Did someone say happiness is a relative term? A guy having RO 800,000 as bank balance may not be a happy person, while a construction worker earning RO 100 per month may turn out to be happier person. It’s all in the mind.
Happiness and Muscat? Well, people of Muscat will be the happiest lot in the last three months of this year. First, we had Eid holidays in the beginning of October, in November we have National Day holidays, and hurray, December we are closed for 3-4 days on account of Eid-ul-Adha.
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Earlier
I had written about Asma Mohammed Rafi earlier. Now, the singing sensation from Oman is creating ‘waves’ in India at the talent hunt show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2009. While the top singers are crumbling like nine pins, Asma has managed to stay put, not because of her singing skills, but for her innocent looks and comedy skills. Among the top 10 contestants, she is the most popular singer in terms of appeal, and the worst singer in terms of voice quality.
Now over to Muscat. Our little birdie, who had interviewed Asma in early 2008 takes the “divorce” bit with a pinch of salt. During the interview, Asma, who was then selected for the Middle East edition of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa in Dubai, was accompanied by her enthusiastic mother. Then the mother had quipped how badly she wants Asma to pursue a career in music and she will be a pillar of strength for Asma.
How come the sudden U-turn now? It is no secret that participants and their parents get into publicity gimmicks to secure votes in reality shows. Is Asma’s case on such thing? Maybe, why would anyone want to kill a golden goose!
Omantel now
Scenario in 2009
(Image source: Internet)
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) announced today the winning bid submitted to obtain Class One Full Fixed Public Telecommunications Services in Oman. A statement issued by TRA this morning reported that PCCW – Awaser Oman Consortium achieved the highest marks in the technical and commercial evaluation as well as the financial bid. TRA endorsement will be forwarded to the Minister of Transport and Communications after all the necessary requirements are met by the winning Consortium pursuant to the tender terms and conditions.The statement clarified that the winning Consortium is given 15 working days to honor their obligation before TRA in accordance with the Information Memorandum.
According to the statement, this is regarded as a milestone in the Sultanate’s liberalization policy of the telecommunications sector. The statement further emphasized that TRA has been committed to the principles of transparency, clarity and equality throughout the entire stages of the bidding process.
Enlarged photo.
This photograph appeared in the ‘Shot of the week’ section of The Week. The caption of the photo says: clean and fresh. Phew! A kid inside a washing machine. The person who clicked the photograph, in this case the mother probably, deserves to be called an idiot and the tabloid senseless in printing the photo. How could you make your kid pose inside a washing machine? What kind of joke is that? Or should be assume some kind of creativity is involved?
With the kind of cut-throat competition among mothers in today’s world, I won’t be surprised if a few make their kids stand inside a refrigerator, on top of split A/C…all for the sake of a photo which could make it to the ‘Shot of the week’ section. You never know. It’s a mad, mad world out there.
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Oman Wastewater Services Company has rebranded itself as Haya. The new public face of OWSC was unveiled at the 2008 general staff meeting held at the Muscat Crowne Plaza, yesterday.
The brand and logo was unveiled in the presence of Sultan bin Hamdoun Al Harthi, chairman, board of directors and Omar bin Khalfan Al Wahaibi¸CEO, OWSC.
Omar bin Khalfan Al Wahaibi said: “We are celebrating the launching of our new logo, our new brand which means life. Our new brand name is the verb tense of the living action. It resembles the life we bring back to the community through recycling wastewater to help in the birth of a new botanical environment. The end product of our new name is a green community.” (more)
