Oman Observer

Thanks cable from Sudan president
HIS Majesty Sultan Qaboos has received a cable of thanks from President Omar Hassan Ahmed al Bashir of Sudan in reply to His Majesty’s congratulatory cable on the 53rd independence day anniversary of his country. Al Bashir wished His Majesty the Sultan good health and happiness. He wished further progress and prosperity for the two brotherly peoples.
— ONA

‘Israel must halt assault’

MUSCAT — Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdallah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, who is also Chairman of the current session of the GCC Ministerial Council, yesterday met at the General Diwan of the Foreign Ministry with ambassadors of the United States of America, Britain, France, China and Russia, in addition to the ambassadors of Libya, Turkey, Austria...

MUSCAT — The Information Technology Authority (ITA) and Royal Oman Police (ROP) are poised to sign a memorandum of understanding with BankMuscat and Gemalto for the implementation of the first phase (pilot phase) of the ePurse application, which will be integrated into the National Identity and Resident Card of the Sultanate.

MUSCAT — The Public Prosecution Department arrested a number of outlaws on the first day of the 19th Arabian Gulf Cup. The suspects are held pending trial after the end of the soccer tournament. The Royal Oman Police, in coordination with the Public Prosecution Department, has cautioned all citizens and residents and fans of other teams against obtaining materials...

Lebanon elections set for June 7
Lebanon will hold parliamentary elections on June 7, the interior ministry announced yesterday. “The ministry of interior announces the promulgation of a decree calling on voters to elect legislators,” a statement said. It added that the vote will take place on Sunday June 7, rather than being held on separate days for different regions, as has been the case in previous elections.
— AFP

Battles rage in Gaza

GAZA — Israeli troops backed by air strikes fought to seize ground from Hamas deep inside the Gaza Strip yesterday despite international calls for a ceasefire in a conflict that has killed more than 540 Palestinians in 10 days. Hamas vowed to fight on in “every street, every alley” and threatened to fire more rockets across the border into Israel. French President Nicolas Sarkozy,...

Leon Panetta named CIA head

WASHINGTON — US president-elect Barack Obama has chosen former lawmaker and White House chief of staff Leon Panetta to head the Central Intelligence Agency, a Democratic Party official said yesterday. The official, asking to remain anonymous, confirmed media reports that Panetta, who was White House chief of staff for former president Bill Clinton,...

Pirates seize French ship off Nigeria, hold 9

PARIS — Pirates seized a ship belonging to French maritime services company Bourbon off the coast of Nigeria during the weekend and are holding nine crew members hostage, the company said yesterday. “Bourbon confirms that the Bourbon Leda and its nine crew members (five Nigerians, two Ghanaians, one Cameroonian and one Indonesian) were seized off the coast...

PARIS — European and Japanese officials warned the global downturn would worsen despite hopes that US president-elect Barack Obama could galvanise the world’s largest economy with a new stimulus plan. Fresh reports out yesterday also painted a gloomy picture, with Japan announcing its worst car sales since 1974 and the iconic Irish china and crystal maker Waterford...