By Zakariya Fikri — MUSCAT — The Sultanate’s economy will see a quantum jump in the coming period, thanks to several projects, among them are RO 8 billion ($20 billion) giant transport and infrastructure projects including construction of airports and airways to be completed in a decade. Commenting on these projects, an economic magazine said that in addition to a RO 1.92 billion ($5 billion) for construction of Duqm refinery during the next five years, RO 300 million for water desalination projects and RO 148 million for construction of a new aluminium plant in Sohar are allotted.

Two arrested after PIA flight forced to land due to mid-air alert — LONDON — British police arrested two men on a Pakistan International Airlines plane after fighter jets were scrambled to escort it to a London airport yesterday following an "incident". Police said the men were detained on suspicion of endangering an aircraft after the plane, which was carrying 300 passengers from the Pakistani city of Lahore to Manchester in northwest England, was diverted to Stansted airport outside London.

LONDON — A British Airways plane with 80 people on board made an emergency landing at London's Heathrow airport yesterday after the right engine burst into flames shortly after take-off and the casing ripped away from the left. The British carrier, part of IAG, said all 75 passengers and five crew members were safe after having been evacuated from the aircraft down emergency chutes on landing. Video footage taken on board the plane as it came into land revealed the silver internal components of the engine.

STOCKHOLM — Police in Stockholm called in reinforcements yesterday after youths set cars and a school ablaze in a fifth night of rioting, the worst to hit Sweden for years. Pupils at a primary school in Kista — an IT hub that is home to the likes of telecoms equipment maker Ericsson and the Swedish office of Microsoft — arrived to find the inside of the small red wooden building had been completely burnt out.