Bolton offer keeper Ali Al Habsi a four-year deal as Hull City wait in wings

Gary Megson has reportedly offered goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi a new four-year deal to keep him at Bolton amid interest from Hull City.
The Trotters chief is busily trying to ensure that long-serving custodian and Finnish international Jussi Jaaskelainen resists the temptation of a Bosman free transfer departure from the Reebok Stadium and signs a new three-year contract at the club this summer.However Megson is also keen to keep Omani international Al-Habsi on board following some excellent displays at the back end of last season as Bolton won their battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League.Newly-promoted Premier League side Hull City, managed by former boss Sam Allardyce's assistant Phil Brown, are believed to be keen on taking Al-Habsi to the KC Stadium, so this new deal offer appears to be Megson attempting to ward off their interest.

The only problem for Bolton is that if Jaaskelainen, who is recovering from a back injury which curtailed his season in March, does agree to stay put then Al-Habsi might request a move to pastures new as he will no doubt want regular first-team football having more than proved himself as a Premier League custodian.

Cristiano Ronaldo named player of the year

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo has been named as the Professional Footballers' Association player of the year.
The 23-year-old wins the award for the second successive season after another outstanding campaign that has seen him score 38 goals in all competitions.
"I feel very happy. It is a great moment, it is an honour, a pleasure," said the Portuguese star.
Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas picked up the young player of the year award.
Ronaldo beat off competition from Liverpool duo Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, 20-year-old Fabregas and Gunners team-mate Emmanuel Adebayor and Portsmouth goalkeeper David James.
The Portugal international was also in the running to scoop the young player of the year award, a feat he achieved last year, but was pipped to the prize by Spain star Fabregas.
Torres, Micah Richards, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young were the other nominees.
I feel very good but it is not just my award, my team-mates have helped me a lot this season
Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo did not attend the event, as he is busy preparing for Man Utd's Champions League semi-final second leg clash with Barcelona on Tuesday night, but was presented with the award by United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
"When you work all season to play good, to do something for the team, and then at the end of the season the PFA give you this award, it is a great motivation to carry on like that, to work more and get better," said Ronaldo.
"I feel very good but it is not just my award, my team-mates have helped me a lot this season.
"They give me good passes to score goals - and I score - but it is a good moment for me."
Ronaldo revealed he voted for Arsenal striker Adebayor, but believes the right man walked away with the award.
"I voted for Adebayor because I think he has had a great season as well," he said.
"But you have many players who have had a good season - Torres, Fabregas, many players. But I think I deserve to win!"
Of his award, Fabregas said: "I'm very proud. It's a very prestigious trophy.
"Football is a collective game and you prefer to win trophies with team-mates but it's always nice to have this type of award.
"I dedicate it to my team-mates because without them I would not have won."
BBC broadcaster and former England and Blackpool full-back Jimmy Armfield received the merit award for his services to the game.
PFA Premier League Team of the Year: David James (Portsmouth), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd), Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd), Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal), Fernando Torres (Liverpool).

Doctoral programmes at two more colleges of SQU

Khaleej Times - MUSCAT — In a major announcement coinciding with today’s ‘University Day’ celebrations in Oman, the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), the country’s highest seat of learning, has revealed plans by two more of its colleges to introduce doctoral degree programmes in several disciplines from the next academic year.
The university will today also name research projects selected to receive cash assistance from ‘His Majesty’s Strategic Research Fund’.
University Day is marked every year on May 2, the anniversary of a historic visit by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos visit to SQU on that day in 2000. Yesterday being a holiday, the festivities are being held today.
The College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences became the first SQU college to launch Ph.D. courses a few weeks ago. Joining it now are the College of Science and College of Engineering.
“For the College of Science, the main motivation for introducing the doctoral degree is to keep pace with the expanding frontiers of scientific knowledge as an essential basis for sustainable development and also to provide research and development training relevant to the economic and social needs of the Sultanate,” spokesman said, adding: “It is expected that the new programmes will enhance SQU’s collaboration with international academic institutions and attract research and development projects from organisations in the public and private sectors from Oman and from abroad as well.”
The college will offer doctoral programmes through the biology, chemistry, computer science, earth science, mathematics and statistics and physics departments. Each department will identify the doctoral study areas based on the specialisations and expertise of the faculty. The period for research will be at least three years for a full-time student.
The College of Science has been running Master’s programmes since 1995 and so far, 74 students have graduated and 65 are currently registered. The College of Engineering will offer doctoral programmes in six disciplines — civil engineering, electrical and computer engineering, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, petroleum engineering and chemical and process engineering.
“The prime objective is to produce research scholars and academicians of high calibre who are capable of delivering quality research to support the initiatives of the Research Council of Oman to leap forward in technological innovation,” the spokesman said, adding: “It is also expected that the implementation of Ph.D. programnes would enhance teaching quality at tertiary institutions and deliver the Omani and Gulf industries with top quality engineers.”
The existing M.Sc. engineering programmes in all departments of the college will provide the foundation to launch doctoral programmes. The College of Engineering has a total of 84 faculty members who have extensive experience in research and graduate student supervision. Currently over 206 masters’ students are being supervised by the faculty. Some of the faculty members have been engaged in supervising national and international Ph.D. students in collaboration with other institutions.
During today’s University Day, the authorities will announce strategic research projects that will be taken up during the coming years at SQU with support from His Majesty’s Strategic Research Fund. SQU has been giving top attention to research right from the beginning; in fact, one of its founding goals is to uphold scientific research.
Prof. Anton Mclachlan, Dean, Postgraduate Studies, SQU, speaking about the university’s postgraduate and research programmes, stressed that all steps were being taken to “ensure highest international standards to all our programmes including Masters’ degrees.” He said the College of Medicine and Health Sciences would launch doctoral programmes once the University Academic Council approves the proposal, “hopefully during its next sitting. Hence all the four science based colleges in the university would start doctoral programmes within a few months time.
The humanity colleges will start doctoral programmes later, may be in a year or two.”
Prof Mclachlan noted that since 2002, His Majesty’s Strategic Research Grant had come “as a blessing for the research professionals in SQU to pursue research projects catering to the nation’s needs.
“The most significant thing now is the Scientific Research Council of Oman coming up with substantial funds to support research projects. Both His Majesty’s Research Grant and funds from Research Council will help SQU in becoming much stronger in research activities.”He said nearly 20 projects had been supported by His Majesty’s funds so far, adding: “Quite a lot of projects are associated with the College of Marine Sciences. It is the most successful college in terms of research projects undertaken and completed.”

Oman unemployment drops 75% on economic boom

Omani unemployment has fallen to as little as 5% compared with almost 20% in 2003, the Times of Oman reported, citing the Ministry of Manpower.Unemployment now is at between 5% and 6%, said Younis bin Khalfan Al-Akhzami, director-general of planning and development, according to the newspaper.Like other states in the world's top oil-exporting region, Oman's economy is surging on a near six-fold rise in oil prices in the last six years. Oman's economy expanded 7.2% in real terms in 2006, its second-fastest pace this decade.
Its gross domestic product (GDP) probably grew to 15.51 billion rials ($40.29 billion) at current prices in 2007, helped by higher oil prices, state-run Oman News Agency (ONA) reported last month, citing the economy minister. (Reuters)