Race and the 2008 election
28
March 2008
In
Philadelphia on 18 March race became, as it always would, a part of the
election campaign. Strangely Barack Obama is always described as a black man
with a white mother; he is never described as a white man with a black
father. He will never be a white President; but he may have now done enough
to be America's first black President.
Obama's remarks on 18 March have been described as "a thinking man's
speech." It was the most articulate speech of this campaign - and it was the
point where I got off the fence and said I would like Barack Obama to be the
next President of the USA. It is time for Hillary Clinton to withdraw.
Comments and the speech are here.
Latest on Executive Towers
28
March 2008
There
is an interesting press release from Dubai Properties today which I have
reprinted below. The reality is of course rather different from the press
release. This project is nine months late. As late as January 2007
purchasers were being promised a Q1 2008 completion. Information to
purchasers (yes that does include me) has been non-existant and customer
service at Dubai Properties has until the last week been impossible to
contact.
This
is a shambles of an organisation that has so far treated its "investors"
with a disdain that borders on complete arrogance. I still have not received
official notification of the delayed completion despite the fact that under
the sale and purchase agreement they were required to notify me of any delay
by 31 December 2007.
The
press release follows:
"Dubai Properties, leading master real estate developer, today announced the
AED 3 billion Executive Towers, which are markedly visible from Sheikh Zayed
Road and Al Khail Road, is nearing completion, and the anticipated handover
date will be during the fourth quarter of 2008.
Work is proceeding simultaneously on all 11 buildings of the Executive
Towers, which include nine residential units, the Aspect Tower, and the
Business Bay Hotel. The development's outdoor component, the Bay Avenue, is
also on its way to deliver 175,000 square feet of retail space as well as
water-front terraces.
With all the units of the Executive Towers sold out, the handover of all
towers will commence in the fourth quarter 2008. Dubai Properties' first
project in Business Bay, the region's new business capital, will also be the
second major project to be handed over by the Master property developer
following the successful release of Jumeirah Beach Residence in 2007,
handing over 6000 apartments.
Yaqoob Al Zarooni, Deputy CEO, Dubai Properties, said: "While we are
committed to adhere to our delivery schedule, we are equally keen on
providing our investors with latest updates on each project. The feedback we
have received from our partners and contractors has been positive as we work
together to ensure we deliver on our promises to investors."
Al Zarooni said: "With 5,400 on-site workers, we are delighted to inform
that our ambitions for the Executive Towers will soon achieve fruition. The
towers and the lifestyle they represent are geared towards people who
celebrate success and an intelligent way of life, and we are confident the
development will set new benchmarks in the industry."
With two-level shopping mall, clinics, health clubs and other facilities,
the Executive Towers will boast a contemporary design and architectural
theme reflecting Dubai's progressive outlook. The main contractor for The
Executive Towers is Al Habtoor Engineering, while the Business Bay
infrastructure is being handled by Halcrow Engineering."
The Dubai World Cup preview
27
March 2008
The
Dubai World Cup racing carnival tales place on Saturday and has brought the
cream of the world's four legged horses and two legged jockeys, trainers and
owners to Dubai for the world's richest racing event.
The
Dubai World Cup itself is the last of the seven races. The overseas
challenge is here for the money. The US$6 million purse is horse racing's
biggest. The field is the most global in the sport, with horses from the
Americas, South Africa, Europe and Asia, not to mention those of Dubai's
ruler, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, who owns successful
thoroughbred stables in Dubai and Kentucky and has just bought Australia's
largest stable.
This
year's favorite is the U.S.-trained 4 year-old Curlin, whose owner resisted
the lucrative temptation to send the horse to stud after a stellar season
last year and vowed to keep him running through his prime. Curlin won the
Breeder's Cup last year and has been in Dubai for a month acclimatising and
winning easily his one race outing at teh Nad-al-Sheba track.
Expect strong challenges from Jalil (won its last three starts) and Asiatic
Boy. However the most interesting horse among the rest is arguably the
Godolphin second string Happy Boy.
Some 60,000 spectators are expected to cheer on the horses in between
partying, eating and being seen. Celebrity spotting may be as entertaining
as the racing. The dress code is lounge suits for the men and conservative
dress and hats for the women.
The
schedule for Saturday 29 March 2008 is as follows:
2.00pm International Village opens
4.30pm Pick Seven Competition closes
RACE 1 DUBAI KAHAYLA CLASSIC (GROUP 1)
5.00pm Purebred Arabians US$250,000 sponsored by EMAAR
RACE 2 GODOLPHIN MILE (GROUP 2)
5.40pm US$1,000,000 sponsored by Etisalat
5.50pm Sponsors Appreciation Awards - Paddock
RACE 3 UAE DERBY (GROUP 2)
6.15pm US$2,000,000 sponsored by Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group
RACE 4 DUBAI GOLDEN SHAHEEN (GROUP 1)
6.55pm US$2,000,000 sponsored by Gulf News
7.05pm – 7.20pm Dubai World Cup Ceremony
RACE 5 DUBAI DUTY FREE (GROUP 1)
7.55pm US$5,000,000 sponsored by Dubai Duty Free
RACE 6 DUBAI SHEEMA CLASSIC (GROUP 1)
8.40pm US$5,000,000 sponsored by Nakheel
RACE 7 DUBAI WORLD CUP (GROUP 1)
9.30pm US$6,000,000 sponsored by Emirates Airline
11.30pm International Village closes
The
runners and riders are
listed here;
Emirates adds more India flights
27
March 2008
Signaling yet another expansion of its India operation, Dubai-based Emirates
Airline, has unveiled plans to introduce double-daily services to New Delhi
and boost its Ahmedabad operation with two additional flights per week,
bringing its total frequency on the India route to 108 weekly flights.
Effective 30th March, the award-winning carrier will add one flight every
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday to its existing daily service to New
Delhi. In the next phase of expansion starting 2nd July, another three
flights - one every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday - will be added to the
route.
The additional flights will be operated by Boeing 777-200 and Airbus
A330-200 aircraft in three-class configurations.
Beginning 30th March, Emirates will also add two weekly flights to Ahmedabad,
its most recent gateway in India, taking its total frequency on the route to
eight flights per week.
The
new flights are:
New
Delhi additional flights:
From 30th March
Flight Days Depart Arrive
EK 514 Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun DXB at 15:40 hrs DEL at 20:20 hrs
EK 515 Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun DEL at 21:50 hrs DXB at 23:35 hrs
From 2nd July
EK 514 Mon, Wed, Sat DXB at 15:40 hrs DEL at 20:20 hrs
EK 515 Mon, Wed, Sat DEL at 21:50 hrs DXB at 23:35 hrs
Ahmedabad additional flights:
From 30th March
Flight Days Depart Arrive
EK 538 Tues DXB at 22:55 hrs AMD at 03:05* hrs
EK 539 Wed AMD at 04:25 hrs DXB at 05:55 hrs
EK 540 Fri DXB at 14:55 hrs AMD at 19:05 hrs
EK 541 Fri AMD at 20:35 hrs DXB at 22:05 hrs
* Next day
Ask for directions
26
March 2008
It is
a well known fact that men are poor at asking for directions. This KLM pilot
is typical: the report is from AFP. The new Hyderabad airport opened last
weekend.
"A
KLM flight headed for Hyderabad in India's south skipped its destination and
flew across India because the pilot was unaware the city had a brand-new
airport, a report said today.
The confusion occurred barely hours after the Rajiv Gandhi International
Airport in the Hyderabad suburb of Shamshabad became operational after
midnight on Saturday, with flights landing and taking off, said the Times of
India.
The pilot of the KLM flight, which had taken off from Amsterdam, at first
headed towards Hyderabad's old airport and was told by air traffic control
the facility had been shut, the report said.
When directed to fly to the new airport, the unnamed pilot replied: "What's
that?" and flew instead first to New Delhi, from where he took the plane to
Mumbai after being declined permission to land, it said.
The plane had on board 230 economy and 13 business-class passengers when it
approached Hyderabad at 1.45am Indian time yesterday. It had been due to fly
out of Hyderabad to Amsterdam at 3.35am with more than 230 passengers.
The Times of India cited an anonymous source as saying the Dutch airline's
pilot had been reluctant to land in Shamshabad because its headquarters in
Amsterdam had not received a notice about the closure of the old and the
opening of the new facility.
The new airport, built at a cost of more than $US600 million ($A650
million), opened for flights after a week's delay prompted by airline
requests for more time to switch to the new facility and operational reasons
such as shifting of equipment."
Dubai's cultural dream
26
March 2008
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice
President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Wednesday
launched the 'Khor Dubai' Cultural Project, which aims to transform the
banks of Dubai Creek into the cultural hub of the city.
Khor Dubai will include 72 new cultural icons that will be added to the
other attractions of the creeks: the old souqs in Deira and Bur Dubai, the
dockyard and the abra. Ten thematic museums will be created on the banks of
the creek, starting from the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) Museum that was
announced recently, museums of culture, heritage and contemporary arts and
science.
Nine public libraries will also be set up, dedicated to poetry, music and
literature. The project will also include thirteen theatres, an opera house,
galleries, cultural and artistic institutes, besides workshops for local and
foreign artists as well as residents.
The project is expected to extend from Al Shindagha area to Business Bay on
the banks of the creek, which will see the participation of the public and
private sector and the communities that live around the creek.
The 'Khor
Dubai' cultural project is planned to make the creek the most comprehensive
cultural destination in the world.
The launch of the cultural project comes in the wake of the decree issued by
Shaikh Mohammad establishing Dubai’s Culture and Arts Authority. The
authority has been mandated to help create a new model for the future of
culture and arts in the world by fusing Dubai’s strong Emirati heritage with
its large, diverse expatriate culture.
Just how gullible are they
25
March 2008
Surely the Chinese people can see through this piece of utter nonsense from
the state news agency in Beijing. The Chinese authorities appear to be
reveling in world support for their bloody crackdown in Tibet. After all,
mighty and influential world powers such as Madagascar, Burundi and Albania
are speaking with one (well paid) voice to say that China is doing the right
thing in Tibet. I wonder if senior officials in Burundi have any idea of
Tibetan history, culture or faith.
But this is a fine example of state owned propaganda masquerading as news.
BEIJING, March 22 (Xinhua) -- More countries around the world have thrown
their support behind the Chinese government in its handling of the recent
riots in Lhasa, capital city of China's Tibet Autonomous Region.
Violent acts should be denounced and separatist moves can be permitted or
accepted in no country, Mauritius President Anerood Jugnauth said while
meeting with the Chinese ambassador to the island country in the southwest
Indian Ocean.
The government of Mauritius supports the stand of the Chinese government and
considers that linking the Lhasa riots to the Beijing Olympic Games can not
be taken for granted, he said.
The president hoped to visit Beijing to watch the upcoming Olympics which he
believes to be an excellent sports festivity.
Foreign Minister of Madagascar Marcel Ranjeva said the Tibet issue is
China's internal affair.
He affirmed that his country is against linking it with the Beijing Olympics
and boycotting the games.
Ranjeva said President Marc Ravalomanana will go to China to watch the games
by then.
A senior official of Burundi's Ministry of External Relations said the Lhasa
riots severely jeopardized the lives and property of the local people and
seriously disturbed the local social order.
By nature, the riots were a political scheme orchestrated by the Dalai
clique with the aim of sabotaging the Beijing Olympics, he said.
The government of Burundi condemns the Lhasa riots in strong terms and
supports the Chinese government taking lawful measures to tackle the
incident, he said.
Burundi is opposed to politicizing the Beijing Olympics and believes the
sports event will be a success, he added.
A spokesman for the Sudanese Foreign Ministry said that to maintain social
stability and safety, any country is obliged to respond when overseas forces
instigate domestic separatists to resort to violence.
The Sudanese government backs the Chinese government to take necessary
actions, he added.
Cyprus Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou told the Chinese ambassador to the
island country that Cyprus adheres to the one-China policy and hopes the
Chinese government could maintain peace and stability in Tibet.
The minister also wished a success to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, saying the
event should not be politicized.
Albanian Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha condemned recent riots in Lhasa.
Montenegro Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the country has abided
by the one-China principal and hopes China could maintain its social
stability.
Nicholas Liverpool, president of the Commonwealth of Dominica, said in a
letter to China that it's against the Olympic spirit and the
internationally-recognized principle to link the issue of Tibet with the
2008 Olympics. The attempts to scuttle the sport event were also against the
international aspiration for a successful Olympic Games.
The Foreign Ministry of Antigua and Barbuda said criminals should be held
responsible for what they have done.
The people of Antigua and Barbuda stand by the Chinese people and they
believe the Chinese government will continue its efforts to maintain
stability and the rule of law in Tibet no matter what happens.
Antigua and Barbuda supports effort by the Chinese government to host a
successful Olympics and is opposed to any attempts to politicize or sabotage
the grand event.
The trouble with Thaksin
From the Guardian - 24 March 2008
"Thaksin,
Thaksin, give us a wave," chanted the crowd at Manchester City last week,
saluting the club's owner, the former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
His stadium appearance was evidence of the extraordinary resilience of a man
thrown out of power in 2006 in a military coup, Thailand's first
non-constitutional change of government for 15 years. But Thaksin is back -
and Thailand may be about to suffer the consequences.
Late last month he returned to Bangkok for the first time since the army
evicted him. "I don't want to get involved in politics," he said soon after
arriving, which as political claims go is at the unconvincing end of
unbelievable. He faces a series of corruption charges, which he dismisses as
politically motivated. In the meantime, he has been strengthening his power
base. A recent army reshuffle saw officers involved in the coup sidelined.
The perpetual sadness of Thai politics is that the country has come close to
stability and sustained democracy, but always fallen short. Thailand is not
the first country to suffer political strain from rapid economic
development, but Thaksin has made the situation acute. The military coup
that removed him was the result of political failure, not a cause of it, a
response to a form of capitalist autocracy. The coup was initially popular,
at least in Bangkok where the urban middle-class took a dim view of
billionaire personality politics. Nor was it opposed by the king. But the
army proved unable to find an electable alternative and suffered as a result
in a general election last Christmas.
The trouble for Thaksin's critics is that he remains more popular than they
do. Although his former party, Thai Rak Thai, was not allowed to take part
in the election, its successor, the People's Power party, was - and it won.
Thaksin handpicked its leader, Samak Sundaravej, an ageing rightwing
politician and sometime TV chef. His government is now struggling to improve
Thailand's rate of economic growth.
Another coup is unlikely. But if Thailand is to sustain effective democracy,
Thaksin's opponents need to come to terms with the reasons for his
popularity - not just his wealth and past control of much of the media
(although these helped) but his courting of the rural poor in central and
northern Thailand, who have gained almost nothing from the boom that has
turned Bangkok into a playground for the global elite. Thaksin offered cheap
medical care to those who could not afford private charges. That does not
make him a democrat, or the right leader for his country. But if he and his
kind are not to take more and more power, as the king's health weakens,
Thailand must strengthen its democracy, and not fall into conflict and
coups.
Burmese friends of Thailand
21
March 2008 - from The Irrawaddy
"Newly elected Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej’s kind words on Burma’s
leaders drew mixed reactions from people in the military-ruled country.
While the generals in Naypyidaw were undoubtedly delighted to hear their own
words coming out of Samak’s mouth, most other Burmese were appalled by his
ignorant assessment of the personal virtues of their nation’s brutal rulers.
Samak’s take on the endearing qualities of his hosts during his recent visit
to Burma didn’t play very well at home, either. An editorial in the
Bangkok-based English-language daily, The Nation, described Samak’s comments
as evidence of “Thailand’s naiveté and its leader’s foul mouth.”
While Thais may be queasy about Samak’s fulsome praise of Burma’s ruling
generals, Burmese taking refuge in Thailand have the greatest cause for
uneasiness. The sweet deals that Samak brought back from Naypyidaw no doubt
spell trouble for Burmese exiles and non-governmental organizations working
on Burma issues on Thai soil.
Thailand’s relations with Burma since the current regime seized power in
1988 have often cast the Kingdom in an unflattering light. The blood on the
streets of Rangoon had hardly had a chance to dry before Bangkok was
arranging high-level visits to cement a new relationship based on economic
cooperation with the Burmese junta.
From the time of late Prime Minister Chatchai Choonhavan to the current Thai
government, Bangkok has pursued a policy of “constructive engagement” with
Burma. Only during the two terms of former Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai has
Thailand’s Burma policy been guided by principles other than economic
self-interest.
In 1993, the Chuan government allowed Nobel Peace Laureates, including
Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, to visit Thailand to lobby for the
release of detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and to highlight
the need for democracy in Burma. The regime in Rangoon was furious and the
relationship was strained.
During his second term from 1997 to 2001, Chuan took an even tougher stance
toward the generals in Burma. He declined to pay an official visit to Burma
and he put Thailand’s defense in the hands of then-Army Chief Gen Surayud
Chulanont and then-Third Army Commander Lt-Gen Watanachai Chaimuenwong—two
hawks who looked askance at their neighbors to the west. Gen Surayud was
also known to be sympathetic to Burma’s ethnic minorities.
As a result, troops from both sides amassed on the border, leading to
serious skirmishes and repeated border closures. Relations were then at
their lowest ebb.
All this changed when Thaksin Shinawatra became the Thai prime minister in
2001. The billionaire premier quickly restored a business-based approach to
relations with Rangoon. But the “win-win” relationship between Thaksin and
the Burmese generals produced many losers. Burmese living along the border
and in the Kingdom came under intense pressure. Several NGOs and activist
groups were forced to close their offices, either temporarily or
permanently.
In March 2005, Human Rights Watch Asia released a statement which noted that
“Since Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra took office in 2001, the Thai
government has put the improvement of business and political relations with
Burma’s State Peace and Development Council at the top of its agenda at the
expense of individual rights.”
After Thaksin was deposed by a military coup in October 2006, relations with
Burma were put on the back burner. Surayud Chulanont returned to a position
of influence, this time as Thailand’s interim leader, and Bangkok kept its
distance from Burma. Surayud condemned the regime’s bloody crackdown on
Buddhist monks and activists last September. He also called for a concerted
international process to deal with Burma, modeled on the six-party talks
which successfully persuaded North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons
program.
Ironically, Surayud—who came to power through a military takeover—has taken
a stronger interest in Burma’s national reconciliation process and
transition to democracy than his democratically elected successor, Samak.
While government-to-government relations between Thailand and Burma have
tended to seesaw over the past two decades, other relationships have formed
between people of these two countries which have only grown stronger over
time. Burmese and ethnic people from Burma have made many Thai friends,
including government officials, NGOs, civil society groups and opposition
parties.
Burmese dissidents also have many powerful friends in other countries,
including the United States. These influential connections also have a
bearing on Thai-Burmese relations. For example, US Congressman Mitch
McConnell and Republican presidential hopeful John McCain have both issued
statements urging Thai authorities to stop harassing Burmese groups whenever
they faced an imminent crackdown in Thailand.
Thailand also has many friends in Burma, who would welcome an opportunity to
enter into a normal relationship with their neighbor. But these friends are
not the generals who made such a favorable impression on Samak during his
one-day trip to Naypyidaw.
Thailand’s real friends in Burma are the dissidents locked up in prisons,
hiding in the jungle or fleeing the latest crackdown. These are the people
who can foresee the day when Thailand and Burma will embrace each other as
equals, as neighbors who can relate to each other as one democracy to
another."
EK
goes mobile at 30,000 feet
21
March 2008
Emirates said today that it had hosted the world’s first authorised
in-flight mobile phone calls on a commercial flight.
The calls took place on Emirates flight EK751 flying between Dubai and
Casablanca in Morocco following the installation of an AeroMobile system.
The system allows passengers to use their personal mobile phones during
flights was given approval by the European Safety Agency and the United Arab
Emirates General Civil Aviation Authority after a year or tests.
Emirates has guidelines for using phones on board, including requesting
passengers to have their phones switched to “silent” mode. Cabin crew will
be able to monitor and control use of the system, which allows passengers to
make calls and send texts.
Passengers were able to make and receive voice calls as well as use text
messaging on today’s flight. The system automatically came into operation as
the Airbus A340-300 reached cruise altitude.
Emirates intends to add more features allowing the use of palm top email and
other GPRS data applications later this year including the Blackberry.
A second Emirates aircraft, a Boeing 777-300, has already been installed
with the AeroMobile system and will be in operation very shortly.
Nominations please
20
March 2008
An
interesting little story from Singapore. The search is on for the happiest
person in Singapore following a recent survey that found nine in 10 people
feel life is stressful and they need more fun, news reports said on
Thursday. Led by Philip Merry, chief executive and founder of the Global
Leadership Academy, the hunt will last until March 30.
Singaporeans can nominate anyone they know over the age of 18. He or she
must contribute to society and be happy "no matter what life throws at
them," The Straits Times quoted Merry, 58, as saying.
A 16-nation survey on Asia by an advertising firm last year found 90 per
cent of Singaporeans are less than happy.
Merry said there is a difference between being successful and being happy.
"Success is getting what you want," he told the newspaper. "But happiness is
wanting what you get."
The top three candidates will be announced on April 4 and the "happiest
person" in Singapore will be revealed at that time.
Car,
credit card, club membership and condominium used to mean a happy
Singaporean !
Five years on
Leader - The Guardian - 20 March 2008
"The
invasion of Iraq was a monumental miscalculation, whose dimensions are still
coming into focus five years to the day after it began. A dictator was
toppled at the cost of provoking a murderous civil war. By all but the most
conservative measures, more Iraqis have died each year under the occupation
than they did annually under Saddam.
The occupation turned a country with - by the time war began - no weapons of
mass destruction and no links to al-Qaida into a battleground for Islamist
fighters. It replaced a Sunni regime with a Shia one, fuelling Islamic
militancy and setting Shia against Sunni in a crescent of conflict which
reaches to the eastern shores of the Mediterranean. Every Sunni Arab state
is challenged by it. The invasion caused more problems for America's allies
in the Middle East, Turkey and Israel than it did for its enemies, Iran and
Syria. Iran has blossomed as a regional power.
In Britain, senior intelligence chiefs allowed their political masters to
distort information for political ends, rupturing public confidence in
government, the accountability of the prime minister to parliament, and the
impartiality of the intelligence services. To date, none of the players in
this domestic drama have come clean about their roles, and only a full and
independent inquiry will oblige them to. That has yet to happen.
Internationally, the authority of the United Nations has still to recover
from the blow delivered by the decision - almost certainly illegal in the
opinion of international lawyers - to invade.
This is a formidable list of failures for any construction project, let
alone one intended to democratise the Middle East. It will take not one US
presidency to solve, but at least two. Both candidates for the Democratic
nomination, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, advocate the withdrawal of US
forces, although the gap between the promise of pulling out 130,000 troops
and the reality of doing so is comfortably wide. It is the duty of any
progressive newspaper to set out ways in which this can happen. But to do
that two questions have to be faced: what state is Iraq in today, and where
can the country go from here?
Advocates of the US troop surge and the counter-insurgency strategy - such
as the commander of the multinational force in Iraq, General David Petraeus,
and the US ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker - point to dramatic reductions
in both the number of daily attacks and the death rate. This dropped from
1,645 civilians killed in February 2007 to 633 last month. Declassified
statistics presented at a US Senate hearing two weeks ago report that
insurgent attacks tallied by the US military have decreased to about 60 a
day in January. But they acknowledge that the surge has only reduced
violence to levels experienced in spring 2005. The number of attacks remains
stubbornly high. Nonetheless, decreased levels of violence might buy time
and space for political activity to re-emerge. Even if the US privately
believes the government of Nouri al-Maliki to be both sectarian and corrupt,
the hope is that a new political class will emerge from the forthcoming
provincial elections, exerting pressure "from the bottom up". That is a lot
of ifs, and we have been here before. The same claims were made after the
last Iraqi elections.
Of the three causes of the drop in violence, two have little to do with the
increased presence of US troops but coincided with it. The first is the
creation of an 80,000-strong militia, paid for and armed by the US, 80% of
whom are Sunni and viewed with deep suspicion by the Shia government, the
army and police force. The Guardian recently interviewed one Sunni insurgent
commander, Khalil, who now fights against al-Qaida and alongside the
American soldiers he once killed. He said: "Our shoulders touch and I have a
weird feeling that I used to kill them and now I am here sitting with them.
I don't mind, I even enjoy fighting with them, but sometimes I say that's
not allowed. You know, I don't know anything." Khalil could just as easily
switch sides again. As he says: "I didn't fight for Osama bin Laden. I
fought because the Americans invaded my country." The second is the
ceasefire of the Shia militia loyal to Moqtada al-Sadr, which allowed
British troops to leave Basra without a shot being fired. This too is
reversible, although provincial elections represent an opportunity for the
Iraqi nationalist cleric to build a political base. The third reason is the
troop presence deployed in forward bases called joint security stations. But
neither US nor British commanders are willing to draw down troop levels
further, such is their lack of confidence in the permanence of the gains
made so far. A major US troop presence is a fixture for the foreseeable
future.
To unravel this conflict, the next US president has to set a date for
withdrawal. The moment that happens, all sides to the conflict will look to
their own power base in Iraq, not to US firepower. Until that happens, there
is little incentive for the Shias to compromise on the sharing of oil
revenue or regional budgets. Until that happens, the fiction that an Iraqi
government exists outside the green zone is allowed to continue. A future US
president has to declare that the US will not keep bases in the country or
an over-the-horizon capability. The end of occupation means just that.
But it also has to prepare for departure. America has to internationalise
the solution to the conflict, not only by replacing its troops with troops
from neutral countries, but by calling a regional security conference
involving all of Iraq's neighbours. Only when the sponsors of violence are
involved will the groups they fund and arm begin to negotiate. Lastly, fresh
elections must be held. Could withdrawal plunge Iraq back into civil war?
Nothing is guaranteed, but nor is the current holding pattern. There are no
good solutions, only least worst ones. Five years ago Iraqis wanted both the
removal of Saddam and a swift departure of US forces. The latter never came.
Today, amid rising optimism for the future, 70% call for withdrawal. It is
time to listen to them."
Dubai LCC latest
20
April 2008
Dubai's new budget carrier is apparently going to start operations in early
2009 from the new Al Maktoum International Airport in Jebel Ali. This is
particularly strange given that the airport is a building site at the moment
with almost no road access. And the lost opportunity of feeding passengers
from the LCC to Emirates makes the decision even stranger. This may change.
The
airline will be supported by Emirates in its start up phase but will have
separate ownership and will not be a part of the Emirates Group. Expect
initial funding from Emirates and the Dubai government and then a partial
IPO within a few years.
The
airline will apparently seek routes that are not currently flown by
Emirates. I suspect there will have to be some duplication if only to build
up a critical mass of flights. The CEO designate has already said that the
airline will open with as many new routes and new airplanes as possible.
Expect the airline to take some of the single aisle fleet that was ordered
by the leasing arm of Dubai Aerospace Enterprises at the Dubai airshow in
November.
As
for routes; there are opportunities into central Asia - Baku, Tashkent,and
Ashkhabad; to Nepal; to Izmir and Ankara in Turkey. But there will need to
be new flights to India and Pakistan to get the critical mass of passengers.
The Dubai LCC and the A380
19
March 2008
Although the Dubai LCC will start operations with 737s or A320s the A380
offers huge potential for carrying large numbers of people on short haul
turnarounds.
Emirates has 58 A380s on order, or 30% of the entire global A380 orderbook.
The carrier has previously indicated it could operate low cost services with
A380 equipment. In Nov-07, Emirates President, Tim Clark, stated that, had
the stretch version of the A380 been available today, “probably two-thirds”
of the A380s the Dubai-based carrier had on order (or some 38 aircraft)
would be for that model.
He indicated that Emirates (or now the LCC subsidiary) would configure the
proposed A380-900 with around 750 seats on a typical service, although some
of the aircraft could be configured with 1,000 seats for routes to countries
such as Thailand and Saudi Arabia.
The airline is currently officially planning a higher density medium-haul
configuration with 604 seats, although the A380-800 model is licensed to
handle 853 in an all-economy layout.
The practical recognition of the potential of the A380 as a mass transport,
low cost vehicle is sure to stimulate wider interest in the aircraft. Until
now, its sales have not been spectacular; they were not helped by successive
delivery delays. But as Singapore Airlines' first A380 landed in London this
week, the tide may be turning.
The Emirates LCC move follows the success of Air Arabia, based in the
neighbouring emirate of Sharjah, which has reported outstanding
profitability since its launch and has recently established cross-border JVs
in Morocco and Nepal to target the North Africa/Europe and Asian markets,
respectively. Kuwait-based LCC, Jazeera Airlines, has also established a
base in Dubai.
Dubai Airport is expected to overtake Singapore Changi this year, handling
in excess of 40 million passengers. The emirate is developing a new airport
at Jebel Ali that will ultimately become the biggest in the world, with
capacity for 120 million passenger p/a. The Emirates LCC will become a key
ingredient in making the Dubai world gateway vision a reality.
A
new airline for Dubai
18
March 2008
Latest update:
New airline will start flying within one year
Lease or buy single aisle airplanes for the first 5 years - A320s or Boeing
737s
Will be managed by Emirates
Will feed to Emirates long haul network
Will be led by Emirates commercial operations director Ghaith al-Ghaith
How
are new airlines formed in Dubai? Not off a business plan apparently. And
not through raising financing from the usual private equity and iinvestment
bank sources.
In
Dubai things are done differently and today
His
Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime
Minister of the UAE has instructed, in his capacity as Ruler of Dubai, the
competent authorities to set up a new airline company to cater for the
growing passenger traffic from and to the UAE.
Shaikh Mohammad envisages the new aviation company as a bridge for love and
interaction between the UAE and other sisterly and friendly countries.
While setting fares structure, the company will be taking the financial and
living conditions of passengers into consideration.
There
have long been rumours of Emirates establishing a low cost airline as part
of the group and
Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al
Maktoum, head of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman of the Emirates Group,
said Shaikh Mohammad's instruction will be put in place with immediate
effect.
Services will be of low cost due to Shaikh Mohammad's keenness to enable
low-income passengers to reunite with their families and relatives at home,
said Shaikh Ahmad.
Shaikh Mohammad named Ghaith Saeed Al Ghaith (another Emirates executive) as
CEO of the new, as yet un-named airline company.
I am happy to
believe that the airline will create greater travel opportunities for the
large South Asian community in Dubai but the real issue is is protecting
Dubai from and Emirates from increasing competition from Sharjah based Air
Arabia and Kuwait based Jazeera - which has established a mini hub in Dubai.
Don't be surprised
to see an all economy A380 in the new airlines colours flying to the likes
of Cairo, Mumbai and Delhi in the next few years. The focus for the airline
will be turnaround flights to a maximum of four hours travel from Dubai.
China censors Tibetan web coverage
17
March 2008
The
Chinese government is working hard to block all media access to Tibet and is
censoring reports about Tibet inside China. That includes not just CNN, but
YouTube and Google News. Both of these Google owned sites have been blocked
from the Internet in China.
News
reports about the protests and images that appear to come from inside Tibet
are available on YouTube as is a CNN report on the unrest. To prevent its
citizens from seeing these videos or reading about them, the Chinese
government has taken down all of YouTube and Google News inside China.
This isn’t the first time YouTube has been censored. Pakistan, Thailand and
Myanmar are among Asian nations that have blocked video content that they
don't like.
The question is: Will Google try to restore access to YouTube and Google
News inside China? China is a big market where Google has already accepted a
degree of self-censorship through key word censorship.
Flickr, the photo-sharing website, Wikipedia, and the LA Times, the US
newspaper, are among the other sites to which access has been cut off.
Riots in Tibet call for end of occupation
15
March 2008
Occupying forces will always be resented. It is one of the truisms of
history. And in modern times whether it is the Americans in Iraq or the
Chinese in Tibet the fact is that the occupiers are not welcome.
In
Tibet China has sought to dilute the strong sense of Tibetan identity by a
massive exportation of Han Chinese into Lhasa and other cities. Through
massive financial investment the Chinese has sought to buy hearts and minds.
But the worst riots of the last 20 years took place in Lhasa over the last 2
days.
Tibet
is a proud nation; it adopted Buddhism 1,300 years ago. The Dalai Lamas
became the supreme spiritual and temporal leaders about 300 years ago. China
regards Tibet to have been a part of its land since the Mongol dynasty
extended into the Himalayan region some 700 years ago. This was formalised
in the 18th and 19th centuries when Tibet was made a protectorate of China.
Tibet achieved autonomy of sorts when it unilaterally declared independence
in 1913. Then Chinese communist troops entered Tibet in 1951 to reassert
control over what the Chinese argue is part of their empire. The Dalai Lama
fled in 1959 following an abortive uprising.
About 2.7 million people, mostly Tibetans, live in Tibet, according to the
Chinese government. Official figures are believed to underestimate large
numbers from China's Han ethnic majority, who have migrated to the region in
recent years.
It is unclear what is happening in Lhasa. The news is heavily controlled by
the Chinese authorities. Varying accounts suggest that Tibet's three main
monasteries have been surrounded by police and troop carriers, foreign
tourists are confined to hotels, and ethnic Chinese-run businesses have been
targeted for damage from angry Tibetans. Some Buddhist monks reportedly are
on hunger strike and, in two cases, have attempted suicide to protest police
handling of the demonstrations.
The
official Xinhua news agency in Beijing gives little information on the Tibet
riots but said authorities said the "Dalai clique" had "organised,
premeditated and masterminded" the unrest and vowed to restore control. "The
plots by the very few people against the stability and harmony of Tibet run
counter to the will of the people and are doomed to fail," it reported an
official as saying. He said the government was "fully capable of maintaining
social stability" in the region. Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai
Lama, has attacked the claims as baseless and called on China not to use
"brute force".
Scenes of smoke-shrouded chaos in Lhasa were described in eyewitness
accounts and posted in photos on the Internet, and signs emerged that the
unrest may have spread to other places. At least 10 people were burned to
death in the violence, according to a government report.
As of late Friday, much of Lhasa was apparently under a curfew. With only
scattered reports of gunfire, Tibet experts said it appears, for the moment,
that public scrutiny may have stalled or prevented a more forceful
crackdown, though it is not clear how protesters will be dealt with after
the initial violence subsides.
The
similarity to recent events in Burma is compelling; in Burma the monks led
their saffron protests which were quickly and violently ended by the
authorities. Many of the monks have now disappeared from the streets and
their monasteries. The world largely turned away. With the Beijing Olympics
now only months away expect Beijing's tolerance to be regularly tested by
continued provincial unrest. Can China afford a bloody crackdown as it seeks
to improve its international image before the Games.
Where will it end?
15
March 2008
Here
is a quick summary of the economic news:
Gold
is at record high prices - now over US1,000 an ounce.
Oil
is at record highs of over US$100 a barrel
The
US dollar is setting new lows daily against the Euro.
The
dollar is trading at more than 2 to the British pound and at less than 100
Japanese Yen.- a 12 year low against the Yen.
There
have been three straight months of declining private sector employment
figures from the USA
On
Friday Bear Stearns, the fifth largest securities firm in the USA received
emergency funding from JPMorgan Chase & Co. and the New York Federal
Reserve. Bear Stearns Cos. shares plummeted a record 53 percent.
Everyone, except the US President, is now talking recession. The only issue
being how deep and how long. All of this equates to record numbers of
housing foreclosures in the U.S., along with soaring prices for energy and
other commodities, bank write-offs, job losses and falling net worth.
As US
consumers move to domestic goods away from now ever higher priced imports
and move from overseas travel to domestic travel expect the US recession to
start to impact the UK and Europe.
The
sub prime mortgage crisis may just be the start of the debt write - offs.
Coming next - massive defaults on credit card debts and their hugely
inflated interest costs.
Where
will it end; the US dollar has further to fall. How far? Who knows.
High
energy costs; ever higher food prices are here to stay. The US dollar will
hit a bottom and recover. Every economic downturn has a low point. But
the US looks less and less like a superpower. US banks, the drivers of the
old world economy, are taking massive write downs on investments while their
stocks are being bought by the sovereign wealth funds of Asia and the Middle
East.
The
new world order is with us. Economic and political influence has moved to
the Middle and Far East. In the USA your home is no longer your castle - for
many it is a financial millstone.
Hong Kong's flu scare
14
March 2008
The
Hong Kong government on Thursday closed all elementary schools and
preschools in the territory a week early for Easter holidays after three
children died amid an influenza outbreak, but insisted there was no sign
that SARS or bird flu were involved.
Apparently 24 kids in Grade 5 at Canadian International school have been
infected. In total over 500 students have been infected across Hong Kong.
The abrupt closing of the schools, announced late Wednesday night, prompted
considerable alarm, with some people donning surgical masks in public as
they had in 2003 during the outbreak of SARS.
The
Public Health Ministry in Thailand has warned Thais who plan to travel to
Hong Kong to be careful and protect themselves from the flu that has broken
out there.
Dr Paijit warned Thais wanting to travel to Hong Kong at this time to take
good care of their health and regularly wash their hands with soap and water
or hand gel.
The virus could be contracted through contact with the breath and saliva of
those infected, said Dr Paijit.
He advised people to avoid sharing personal items such as glasses, mobile
phones and spoons with infected people. Anyone with flu should wear a mask
to prevent the disease from spreading.
Inevitably the flu outbreak has brought back memories of Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome or SARS, a pneumonia-like virus that killed almost 300
people in Hong Kong in 2003 and set off international health concerns.
The
World Health Organisation, however, seems satisfied that the outbreak is a
seasonal influenza and is not SARS-related or bird-flu related.
Schools will be closed for two weeks until March 28 -- twice the incubation
period for the virus.
For parents this must have been very frustaring; those working cannot just
suddenly take a day off or find someone to look after their children. At
least one or two days' notice would have helped them prepare.
Emirates goes Californian
14
March 2008
Hardly a secret but still good news when it comes Emirates announced
yesterday that it will start flying to Los Angeles from 1 September 2008.
The West Coast city will be the airline’s third destination in the US after
New York and Houston.
Operating daily, the service will be the first non-stop operation connecting
Dubai to Los Angeles. Emirates will fly its Boeing 777-200LR on the route,
offering 266 seats in a three class configuration and will provide up to 10
tonnes of cargo capacity from the US city.
Dubai
to LAX will depart daily at 8.20am arriving at 1.55pm; a mere 16 hours and
35 minutes later.
The return flight leaves LAX at 4.45pm and takes 16hrs. 55
minutes to Dubai arriving at 7.40pm connecting mainly into flights into
South Asia.
The
becomes EK's longest non stop route at 25 minutes longer than the Houston
route.
For
the crew this will be another long haul slog with a 26 hour layover. Deduct
the disembarkation of passengers off the plane, the hassle of US customs,
the drive during traffic from and to LAX and there wont be time for much
more than a good sleep ! Add the 11 hour time difference and this will be a
tiring trip!
UAE road madness
11
March 2008
In morning traffic madness on the
Abu Dhabi highway today at least eight people were killed in a series of
horrific accidents involving over 200 vehicles colliding in thick fog. Many
of the cars caught fire adding to the carnage.
At this time of year with warm
days and cool nights there is often thick but patchy fog along the Arabian
Gulf coastline. This morning it was the highway north from Abu Dhabi to
Dubai that was badly affected.
And reckless driving made a bad
situation worse. Speeding in fog is common here what fog? And you will
always see drivers turning on their hazard warning lights and continuing to
drive. For traffic behind it is unclear whether the lights are on because
the car is stationary or is still moving in traffic.
This is probably the country's
biggest traffic accident and pictures showed charred wrecks, broken glass
and metal strewn across the road, which was blocked for most of the day as
police and rescue workers evacuated casualties and removed cars. Television
footage showed vehicles ablaze in the road.
The crash was made worse by the fact that several buses carrying labourers
to work were on the road. Police said 12 buses carrying some 300 workers in
total were involved in the crash, which took place at 6 a.m.
A
guide to Abu Dhabi
8
March 2008
Richest city in the world shows incredible growth from : McClatchy
Newspapers
If Dubai and Abu Dhabi were '50s film idols, Dubai would be Marilyn Monroe.
Abu Dhabi would be Grace Kelly. Dubai is the sizzle. Abu Dhabi is the steak.
Dubai is the commercial hub of the United Arab Emirates that gets all the
attention. Some 60 miles away, the nation's political capital of Abu Dhabi
has gone largely overlooked. But Abu Dhabi doesn't have to stand for that
anymore, and it isn't going to.
Not that there's a rivalry, but this city, widely regarded as the world's
richest, is spending $100 billion -- that's billion-with-a-B -- on
infrastructure over the next five years to change its numbers and attract
more vacationers. A bigger airport, wider roads and dozens of developments
that each measure in the tens of millions of square feet already are under
construction, somehow without the frenzied sense of urgency that permeates
Dubai.
The world's only extension of Paris' vaunted Louvre Museum will rise, all
258,000 square feet of it, here in Abu Dhabi. A 323,000-square-foot
Guggenheim also is in the works. Look for them to open their doors in
2011-'12 on Saadiyat Island, a 10-square-mile natural formation that claims
to be the largest single mixed-use development in the Arabian Gulf, which
would make it bigger than any of the man-made island projects Dubai's got
going.
Despite the massive project, much of Saadiyat Island will remain the
wildlife habitat it always has been, thanks to its mangrove swamp. In fact,
I ought to mention that Abu Dhabi city itself sits on an island. To get
there from Dubai you take a freeway that runs past power plants, dusty
blue-collar communities and -- right there between the desert and the deep
blue sea -- a mangrove swamp.
This city is newer than you'd think. Except for the Heritage Village out on
the breakwater and the Qasr Al Hosn fort, there's little sign of rural
Arabia here. The heart, if not the center, of town seems to be the Corniche,
or shoreline road, that on the gulf side brushes a golden beach framed by
landscaped walks and bicycle paths. On the town side, behind a string of
grassy parks, stand banks of high-rise offices, condos, hotels.
At first blush, Abu Dhabi's Corniche might easily be mistaken for Chicago's
Lake Shore Drive -- with some dramatic exceptions: Mosque minarets and
flocks of construction cranes pierce the skyline. The bike path is surfaced
with blue pavers. Underpasses are decorated with painted-and-fired tiles.
Instead of the diversions of Navy Pier, there's Lulu Island where people can
experience the dunes of the Arabian desert without the inconvenience of
leaving the city limits. The luxury hotel Emirates Palace is the sort of
spread that holds two pools and two helicopter pads, with plenty of room
left over for a performance of "Aida" on its west lawn. They've staged the
musical "Chicago" in the 1,100-seat indoor theater. The most basic of rooms
here come with 'round-the-clock butlers and views of gardens or pools, if
not the Persian Gulf, when you're not watching the 4-foot plasma TV.
At the other end of town and flanking the Abu Dhabi Mall -- it's also new --
are the eastern beachfront hotels of the formerly prestigious, now
demolished, soon-to-be-redeveloped Tourist Club area. The neighborhood holds
such a place in the local psyche that cab drivers plead to show you where it
used to be: The void on the shoreline awaits a new five-star hotel and
appropriate trappings. I spent my one night in town next door at the
moderate-by-Emirate-standards Le Meridien, an older hotel which has only one
pool -- unless you count the one in the spa -- and a small beach that,
unfortunately, faces the industrial clutter of Suwwah Island. Still, the
rooms were updated along the lines of a W Hotel, and I'm still impressed by
the multi-hued onyx fountain in the lobby.
Hotels are a bigger part of the experience in the Persian Gulf than in some
other regions of the world. With few exceptions, they're where you'll be
dining and drinking, so it matters where you stay.
I wish it were possible to tour some of the royal family's palaces. But the
best you can do is a drive-by of the perimeter fences and entry gates -- a
waste of time. You're better off stopping by the Women's Craft Center or
prowling through Al Menna, a warehouse district where carpets, birds, garden
gnomes, garbage pails and vegetables are sold flea-market style. Play the
license-plate game here, and you'll bag Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan. Al
Menna's docks aren't bad either for local color. Working dhows tangled with
fishing nets hold the foreground alongside what look like offshore drilling
rigs on shore leave. Depending on the humidity, you may or may not get to
see the glass skyline across the harbor.
You could take a day trip south to Liwa Oasis, near Saudi Arabia. Or you
could trek due east to Al Ain, another oasis in the Hajar Mountains. Either
excursion can be booked through local outfitters, assuming you make Abu
Dhabi your base of operation -- which isn't a bad idea. Not that you'd leave
Dubai out of the picture. After all, if you're going to stay in the richest
city on Earth, you ought to show a little charity to those places less
fortunate.
IF YOU GO:
GETTING THERE: If you are visiting as part of a Dubai trip, a taxi between
the towns is about US$77 each way.
GETTING AROUND: Taxis are the way to go. They're less than $5 between the
gold souk and most hotels in town. Your hotel can book a half-day custom
taxi tour of the city for about $73.
STAYING THERE: The top stay here is the lavish Emirates Palace, on the
western tip of the island. Standard rooms start at $602 in March (during Abu
Dhabi's shopping festival) and come with garden or pool views -- when you're
not watching the 50-inch plasma TV -- balconies and marble baths. It's a
Kempinski affiliate. (800-426-3135; www.emiratespalace.com)
In the same neighborhood is the less pricey Hilton Abu Dhabi, with a beach
of its own and rates in March ranging $299-$544. (800-445-8667;
www1.hilton.com) Another familiar name nearby is InterContinental,
$544-$1,497 in March. (888-424-6835; www.ichotelsgroup.com)
Many other business and resident hotels are scattered along the Corniche.
At the other end of town are the eastern beachfront hotels. I spent my one
night in town at Le Meridien, $381-$517 in March. (800-543-4300;
www.starwoodhotels.com) Also here is the Beach Rotana Hotel & Towers, a
Middle Eastern chain, $414-$657 in March. (www.rotana.com)
Rates may be considerably less during the hot summer months and Ramadan. Add
16 percent tax to hotel rates.
CULTURAL CUES: Arabic is the official language, but English is spoken by
most workers in the tourist sector; everything from street signs to menus is
bilingual. Islam is the official religion. Those of other faiths are free to
attend churches or temples so long as there's no proselytizing. Dress code
is on the side of modesty. Women should wear blouses with sleeves,
calf-length pants or skirts (but no slits), and avoid exposing cleavage and
midriff. There's no need to wear a scarf. Men should wear shirts with
sleeves and long pants.
Friday is the Islamic holy day, when many businesses are closed or work
shorter hours. Shops are open on Friday but close for prayers 11:30
a.m.-1:30 p.m. The rest of the week, shopping in souks is generally 9 a.m.-1
p.m. and 4-9 p.m. Malls usually are open 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Visas are unnecessary for most countries and visitors are admitted for up to
one month.
INFORMATION: www.abudhabitourism.ae
Thai Air Asia wont miss Saigon
8
March 2008
Thai
Air Asia has been given approval for twice weekly flights from Bangkok to Ho
Chi Minh City. The flights will mainly serve weekend travelers with
departure from Bangkok ats at 3:55 p.m. and arrival into HCM City at 5:25
p.m. The flight from HCM City leaves at 5:55 p.m. and arrives in Bangkok at
7:25 p.m. Flight time is one hour and 30 minutes.
Thai AirAsia is celebrating the opening of the route with a 99-baht fare
promotion that will run until March 9.
Celine Dion takes no chances
6 March 2008
Celine Dion came
to Dubai and courtesy of a friendly supplier we were at the show. My review
is on the left. A loyal report from one of Dubai's newspapers is on the
right. It is hard to imagine that we were at the same concert!
Emirates Business
24/7 at least keeps some criticism today for the transport arrangements
reporting that:
"The idea behind
shuttling everyone in minibuses from Dubai Festival Centre to the venue was
certainly an ingenious one but someone did not anticipate the ride back.
What happens when 10,000 plus concert revellers attempt to board a handful
of buses at the same time?
Chaos is the word
that comes to mind. With security standing by helplessly, people took to the
roads, flagging down empty buses and pushing their way in. That didn't go
down well with the thousands lining up patiently only to see packed buses
coming their way. Voices were raised, verbal warfare erupted and fists flew
in several directions."
We were already
walking to look for a taxi but I am glad we avoided the bus chaos.
