Oman Observer

HM condolences conveyed to UAQ ruler

UM AL QUWAIN — Sayyid Saud bin Ibrahim al Busaidy, Minister of Interior and envoy of HM Sultan Qaboos, conveyed the condolences of His Majesty to Shaikh Saud bin Rashid bin Ahmed al Muala, member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Um al Quwain, on the death of his father Shaikh Rashid bin Ahmed al Muala, the late ruler of Um Al Quwain,

MUSCAT — His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, the Supreme Commander, has received a cable of greetings from Lt Gen Malik bin Sulaiman al Maamari, Inspector General of Police and Customs, on the occasion of the Police Day which falls on January 5 every year. Lt Gen Al Maamari extended his greetings and those of all Royal Oman Police personnel, praying to Allah the Almighty...

SAMAYIL — Al Dhakhiliyah Region’s Water Supply Project opened here in a ceremony held under the auspices of Shaikh Salim bin Hilal al Khalili, Minister of Agriculture. Mohammed bin Abdullah al Mahrouqi, Chairman of the Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW), said that the project is one of PAEW’s pilot programmes aimed to provide the wilayats...

Palestinian toll tops 500

GAZA — Israeli troops and tanks split the Gaza Strip and ringed its main city yesterday in an offensive against Hamas that has killed 500 Palestinians, including a growing number of civilians. Israeli tanks poured shells and machinegun-fire and war planes struck as Hamas fighters fought back with mortars and rockets. Hamas kept up rocket attacks against southern Israel,...

Woman suicide bomber kills 35 near Baghdad shrine

BAGHDAD — A female suicide bomber blew herself up in north Baghdad yesterday, killing at least 35 people including women and children, a security official said. The woman carried out the attack at a checkpoint as pilgrims participating in Muharram ceremonies converged on the mausoleum of Imam Musa al Kadhim in Kadhimiyah neighbourhood, the official said.

Russia wants warships stationed around the world

MOSCOW — Russia’s military leaders approved a plan by the navy to station warships permanently in friendly ports across the globe. Underfunded since the 1991 break-up of the Soviet Union, the Russian navy has been reasserting itself over the last year by chasing Somali pirates around the coast of east Africa and steaming across the Atlantic to visit allies in South America.

PARIS — A French warship yesterday foiled attempts by Somalian pirates in the Gulf of Aden to seize two cargo vessels and intercepted 19 people, the French president’s office said. “Three days after a French vessel thwarted an attack on a Panamanian cargo ship” the frigate Jean de Vienne conducted a “decisive action” against “two new attacks” it said in a statement.