|
Royal Decree effects transfers,
placements of ambassadors |
|
|
|
|
MUSCAT — His Majesty Sultan
Qaboos has issued Royal Decree No 94/2008 which effects transfers and
appointments in the Diplomatic Corps. Article 1 of the decree states that
the ambassadors named below shall be transferred to the diwan of the
Ministry of General Foreign Affairs: They are Salim bin Fankhar al Shanfari,.... |
Read more |
|
HM receives Renaissance Day
greetings cables |
|
|
|
|
MUSCAT — On the occasion of the
July 23 Anniversary, the Oman Renaissance Day, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos has
received cables of greetings from leaders of Arab and Islamic nations, as
well as dignitaries from the GCC states. Cables of greetings were sent to
His Majesty the Sultan by Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan, President of
the United Arab Emirates (UAE),..... |
Read more |
|
Obama repeats peace pledge,
assurances |
|
|
|
|
|
SDEROT, Israel — US
presidential candidate Barack Obama vowed yesterday to take advantage of
what he said was a window of opportunity for Middle East peace if he was
elected. “I will not wait until a few years into my term or my second term
if I am elected in order to get the process moving,” Obama said in the
Israeli town of Sderot. |
Read more |
|
BAGHDAD — Iraqi President Jalal
Talabani yesterday rejected a provincial election bill a day after it was
adopted in parliament, making it all but certain that polls due in October
will be delayed. “The president does not accept a law like this, a law that
127 deputies voted on and which does not represent even half of the
parliament,” a statement from Talabani’s office said. |
Read more |
|
TEHRAN — President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad yesterday vowed that Iran would not yield in the crisis over its
nuclear drive but the White House warned again that it risks more sanctions
if it fails to freeze nuclear work. “The Iranian people are steadfast and
will not step back an inch against the oppressive powers,”.... |
Read more |
|
Zimbabwe rivals to start full talks
today |
|
|
|
|
|
JOHANNESBURG — Zimbabwe’s
opposition MDC and President Robert Mugabe’s ruling ZANU-PF will begin
negotiations on a power-sharing deal in earnest today, officials said
yesterday. The rivals kicked off preliminary talks on Tuesday aimed at
ending Zimbabwe’s crisis, South African President Thabo Mbeki’s spokesman
said. |
Read more |
|
Bashir orders ‘child rebels’ freed |
|
|
|
|
|
NYALA, Sudan — Sudanese
President Omar Hassan al Bashir yesterday ordered the release of 89 youths
arrested by his government after an attack by Darfur rebels on Khartoum two
months ago. “I order the authorities to release those children and take care
of them and take care of their education,” Bashir told a crowd of thousands
in Nyala,... |
Read more |
|
EU warns US over visa issues |
|
|
|
|
|
BRUSSELS — The European
Commission will propose forcing US diplomats to get visas to travel to the
European Union from January 2009 unless Washington moves towards granting
citizens of all EU states visa-free entry. “No tangible progress has been
made regarding the United States despite all efforts of the Commission and
individual member states,”... |
Read more |
Oil slips to 6-week low
NEW YORK — Oil prices fell $4 to a six-week low yesterday extending
its losses to more than $20 from the all-time peak above $147 a barrel hit
on July 11 — the steepest drop in dollar terms in the market’s history. US
crude oil prices fell $3.98 to settle at $124.44 a barrel after touching a
low of $124.30. London Brent crude fell $4.11 to $125.44 a barrel. The
losses came after the US Energy Information Administration released a report
showing a surprisingly large increase in domestic gasoline stockpiles last
week, accompanied by weak implied demand.
— Reuters |
|
|
|
|
|
Four die in Swiss plane crash
A SMALL aeroplane crashed yesterday in the southern Swiss canton of Valais,
killing all four people on board, local police said. The plane took off from
the town of Muenster and crashed after flying one km, said Jean-Marie Bornet,
head of information and prevention for the Valais cantonal police. The cause
of the crash was not yet known, Bornet said. |