Oman and Iran
Iran conducted a military exercise called the "Devotees of Velayat" during the second week of December. The manoevres involved the country's entire armed forces, including units of the Islamic Republic Army, Islamic Republic Guard Corps (IRGC), Islamic Republic Police Force (IRPF) and Basij (mobilization) voluntary forces. Women members from the basiji Al-Zahra battalion 530 of Chabahar carried out relief and rescue operations from helicopters.
An Iranian admiral confirmed that the war games stretched over 33 nautical miles from the strategic Straits of Hormuz (overlooked by the Musandam of Oman) to Chabahar in the southeastern-most province bordering the north Indian Ocean, near to Pakistan.
An Iranian admiral confirmed that the war games stretched over 33 nautical miles from the strategic Straits of Hormuz (overlooked by the Musandam of Oman) to Chabahar in the southeastern-most province bordering the north Indian Ocean, near to Pakistan.
Beware of meteorite hunters
It's a huge pleasure to lie under clear desert skies watching shooting stars fall to Earth. Oman is singularly fortunate in the number of meteorites that fall on its surface, particularly in Dhofar and Al Wusta. The meteorite density in Interior Oman is unusually high - more than one meteorite per square kilometre. Oman Observer, August 2001.
Three years ago, Ali al Kathiri, an Omani geologist on study leave from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry undertook a field survey with the Natural History Museum of Berne and the University of Berne in Switzerland. The geologists collected over 1,000 kg of meteorite fragments, but one in particular, now named SaU 169, after its discovery at Sayh al Uhaymir in Sharqiyah, has been identified as originating in the Imbrium Basin on the Moon.
Three years ago, Ali al Kathiri, an Omani geologist on study leave from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry undertook a field survey with the Natural History Museum of Berne and the University of Berne in Switzerland. The geologists collected over 1,000 kg of meteorite fragments, but one in particular, now named SaU 169, after its discovery at Sayh al Uhaymir in Sharqiyah, has been identified as originating in the Imbrium Basin on the Moon.
The IMF Article IV consultation, 2005
Every two years or so, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) meets with officials of member countries under Article IV of the IMF constitution to examine data on the fiscal state of the nation and arrangements "to promote a stable system of exchange rates". This is required for all member nations, of which Oman is one, who request financial assistance from the IMF.
Member nations must agree to (a) foster orderly economic growth (b) foster a monetary system which avoids erratic disruptions (c) avoid manipulation of exchange rates which might give a balance of payment or other unfair advantage and (d) follow exchange policies compatible with Article IV. Oman's latest consultation based on data from 2004, was published earlier in December. Broadly, Oman's economic performance in 2004 was strong with real GDP growing at 4% and at 8% in the non-hydrocarbon sector.
Member nations must agree to (a) foster orderly economic growth (b) foster a monetary system which avoids erratic disruptions (c) avoid manipulation of exchange rates which might give a balance of payment or other unfair advantage and (d) follow exchange policies compatible with Article IV. Oman's latest consultation based on data from 2004, was published earlier in December. Broadly, Oman's economic performance in 2004 was strong with real GDP growing at 4% and at 8% in the non-hydrocarbon sector.
Peninsula Shield, nuclear proliferation and the AGCC summit
Mixed signals are emerging on Oman's support for a GCC military force. An official report of the outcome of the latest AGCC (Arab Gulf Cooperation Council) held in Abu Dhabi published in the Times of Oman on 20th December confirmed unity amongst the six members Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates on, amongst other things, military co-operation. Until you read the report a little more closely.
Dick Cheney in Oman next week
Al Jazeera reports today that US vice-president Dick Cheney will be stopping in Oman, after attending the first session of Afghanistan's new parliament next week. He will also be calling in on Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. His office stated that his mission was to discuss "key issues of mutual concern relating to President Bush's freedom agenda and the war on terror".
Don's springs
Following on from yesterday's piece about groundwater leaking away from Wadi Dayqah, I found some of Don Davison's photos taken on boat trips east of the boundary of the Daghmar Plain (Wadi Dayqah flood plain) between February to March 1992. The photos show freshwater springs of different types emerging at the base of the cliffs.
The dam at Wadi Dayqah, or should that be Dhaiqa?
Although you might think that a water storage dam would probably be an anachronism in the Persian Gulf, sufficient water does fall in the mountainous areas of the Arabian Peninsula to make water storage seem to be a viable option. Several small dams were built on Al Jabal al Akhdar during the 1990s to feed domestic water supply to villages and to irrigate agriculture, particularly in regions where water supply from traditional springs had dwindled.
But at what point does the benefit of building such structures become overtaken by the cost?
But at what point does the benefit of building such structures become overtaken by the cost?
Smart ID cards and the Oxford Business Group
The latest Oman briefing from the Oxford Business Group (OBG) focused on the introduction of Smart ID cards to Oman. Royal Decree 66/99 established the constitution of a new Civil Status Register and the creation of an electronic ID card. The project has been managed by the Royal Oman Police (ROP), not only to enhance ID security but also to improve its own IT infrastructure.
The South Korea connection
South Korea appears to be investing heavily in Oman, or should I say, winning some large contracts. Just a few days ago, Ahmed bin Abdulnabi Macki, minister of national economy and deputy chairman of the Financial Affairs and Energy Resources Council and chairman of the Oman Shipping Company’s board, was at the Samsung Shipbuilding Port to launch the 'Salalah', Oman's fourth LNG carrier, which is being leased to Qalhat LNG to transport gas to Union Fenosa's plants in Spain.
Blue City - environment and mangroves
Finally, Gulf News blurted it out on 30th November. Michael Jackson has been in Oman for the last two weeks. And issue 143 of The Week, Muscat's weekly society rag, sports photos of him visiting City Centre and Carrefour, Muscat's biggest shopping centre, although small by comparison with that in Dubai. No interview though.
Gulf News focused on his possible involvement with The Blue City at Al Sawadi, 100 kms northwest of Muscat.
Gulf News focused on his possible involvement with The Blue City at Al Sawadi, 100 kms northwest of Muscat.