FRIDAY | DECEMBER 8, 2017 | RABEE AL AWWAL 19, 1439 AH VOL. 37 NO. 24 | PAGES 20 | BAISAS 200 follow us @omanobserver www.omanobserver.om [email protected] COMPANIES PREPARE FOR DISORDERLY BREXIT P15 FAB FOUR HIT 7 FOR LIVERPOOL P20 NEW ‘LAND AND SEA’ DINOSAUR DISCOVERED P14 Royal Decree to set up AL QUDS’ STATUS SHOULD BE DECIDED embassy in Switzerland BY NEGOTIATIONS: SULTANATE MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos on Thursday issued DEEP CONCERN: Clashes in Jerusalem, Gaza and West Bank as global outrage at Trump decision mounts a Royal Decree, No 46/2017, establishing an embassy for MUSCAT/ JERUSALEM: The with Israeli soldiers in Ramallah and Oman in Switzerland. Sultanate expresses its deep sorrow other places in the West Bank and Article (1) states that the over the decision made by the US Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Authority “Sultanate of Oman Embassy” President Donald Trump regarding called for a general strike. In Gaza, the shall be established in the Swiss Al Quds (Jerusalem). Hamas appealed for a mass uprising. Confederation. The Sultanate stresses that such Palestinian shops in east Jerusalem, Article (2) says that this a decision is valueless and that including the Old City, as well as in decree shall be published in the such issues should be left for the the West Bank were largely shut and Official Gazette and enforced on negotiations between the Palestinian schools were closed on Thursday. its date of issue. — ONA and Israeli parties within the At a checkpoint near Ramallah, framework of the final solution Israeli forces fired dozens of rounds of negotiations. tear gas and stun grenades at hundreds OMAN The Sultanate also urges the of protesters gathered to vent their international community to abide by anger over Trump’s announcement Support to civil the provisions of the international that has upset even Washington’s law and not to take any decisions or allies. aviation hailed procedures or measures that are in Trump’s decision was met with contradiction with the international global dismay, drawing criticism MUSCAT: Participants in the 11th ACI Airport Exchange 2017 Conference and legitimacy resolutions especially the from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran, Exhibition sent a cable of thanks and Security Council Resolution No 242 Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, Malaysia, gratitude to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos. which affirms that the lands occupied Indonesia and more. Western allies They expressed their sincere thanks and by Israel after 5th of June 1967 are of the US such as Britain, Germany, appreciation for the warm welcome and “occupied lands”. Canada and France refused to side generous hospitality which enabled the In a landmark speech in with Washington. China and Russia conference to achieve its goals. They Washington on Wednesday, Trump too expressed displeasure. also valued the Omani leading stances — AFP in supporting civil aviation sector in the reversed decades of US policy in Palestinians protest against US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The UN Security Council will region and the world. SEE PAGE 2 defiance of warnings that recognizing discuss the issue on Friday after Jerusalem as Israel’s capital will derail Department to begin preparations long-standing conflict. territories on Thursday as fears grew eight of the 15 nations called for an the fragile Israeli-Palestinian peace to move the US Embassy from Tel The announcement prompted of fresh bloodshed in the volatile emergency session. The Arab League Pact for RO 288m process and spark further unrest. Aviv to Jerusalem but that the US still a global diplomatic backlash and Middle East. will meet on Saturday. — Agencies Trump said he would tell the State supported a two-state solution to the sparked protests in Palestinian Palestinian protesters clashed SEE PAGE 4 ITC in Duqm MUSCAT: Yahya bin Said al Jabri, Chairman of the Special Economic GERMAN ANOTHER 17 KM OPENS FOR TRAFFIC Zone Authority in Duqm (SEZAD), on PARTY Thursday signed an agreement with an India company to establish an integrated tourism complex (ITC) in By 2025 EU must become Duqm. The new tourism project includes a 5-star hotel, resorts, yacht marina, various commercial complexes and an integrated residential complex with ‘United States of Europe’ beachfront villas and apartments. BERLIN: The head of Germany’s at a Berlin meeting of some 600 Social Democrats, Martin Schulz, a delegates. He suggested a target year INSIDESTORIES potential future governing partner of 2025, one century after the SPD of Chancellor Angela Merkel, called first spoke of a future “United States on Thursday for the creation of a of Europe”. “United States of Europe” by 2025. Schulz said only a more united Schulz delivered a passionate plea EU could meet challenges such for a more united and federal Europe as combating climate change or at an SPD party congress that was managing mass migration, forcing due to decide whether his centre-left Internet giants such as Google and NEPAL VOTES IN FINAL ROUND party will enter exploratory talks to Facebook to respect civil rights or OF HISTORIC POLLS P5 form a new coalition government stopping large companies from with Merkel. dodging taxes. “I want a European constitutional “Europe is our life insurance,” treaty that creates a federal Europe”, said Schulz. “It is the only chance we said Schulz, the former European have to keep up with the other great A 17 km stretch of the Al Batinah Expressway, from Al Hazm in the Wilayat of Al Rustaq in the Governorate of South Al Batinah parliament president, proposing a regions of the world.” to the Wilayat of Al Suwaiq in the Governorate of North Al Batinah, was opened for traffic on Thursday. SEE PAGE 2 written convention involving civil He also argued that only a society and citizens. strengthened EU would stop the US AND RUSSIA CLASH OVER The treaty would then be advance of right-wing nationalists, UKRAINE AS OSCE MEETS P6 presented to all member states citing gains they had made in for ratification, with those that Germany as well as Austria, Bitcoin climbs over $2,300 in reject it automatically leaving the Denmark, Finland, France and the bloc, Schulz proposed in a speech Netherlands. — AFP 12 hours, crosses $15,300 FESTIVAL OF LONDON: Bitcoin rocketed above They are now on the main stage,” PIZZA MAKING WINS WORLD $15,000 for the first time on Thursday, said Charles Hayter, founder of HERITAGE STATUS P10 FALCONRY after adding more than $2,000 to its cryptocurrency data analysis firm TAKES OFF price in fewer than 12 hours. Bitcoin, Cryptocompare. But some are WEATHER TODAY the world’s biggest and best-known warning that the launch of bitcoin cryptocurrency, has seen a more than futures, which will allow investors to MUSCAT SALALAH NIZWA fifteen-fold surge in its value since the take speculative “short” positions on MAX: 250C MAX: 290C MAX: 250C start of the year. the cryptoccurrency, as well as “long” MIN: 140C MIN: 210C MIN: 80C It climbed to as high as $15,344 positions, could cause even greater Bitcoin has risen from $752 in mid- on the Luxembourg-based Bitstamp volatility. SUNRISE 06.37 AM January to dramatically surge exchange, leaving it up more than 12 past $15,000. — AFP “Aggressive traders, such as hedge PRAYER TIMINGS per cent on the day, having traded just funds and algorithm-driven funds, above $13,000 12 hours earlier. it would draw more investors to the (will be able) to use this futures FAJR: 05:16 Many market-watchers said the market. market to enter bitcoin trading with DHUHR: 12:03 launch this weekend of bitcoin futures “Futures trading will mean more high levels of liquidity for aggressive ASR: 15:05 by CBoE, one of the world’s biggest demand... and is a form of ratification short-selling and knock the prices A falcon enthusiast trains a falcon during the 4th International Festival of MAGHRIB: 17:25 derivatives exchanges, was helping of the underlying tech — bitcoin and really low,” said Think Markets analyst ISHA: 18:41 Falconry in the Ramah Area of Al Ain on Thursday. The festival celebrates the passing on of falconry knowledge to the next generation. — AFP drive up the price on expectations cryptocurrencies in general. Naeem Aslam. — Reuters insideoman OMANDAILYOBSERVER 2 FRIDAY l DECEMBER 8 l 2017 Airport Exchange Conference participants thank HM MUSCAT: Participants of the 11th ACI Airport Exchange 2017 Conference and Exhibition have sent a cable of thanks and gratitude to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos. They expressed their sincere thanks and appreciation for the warm welcome and generous hospitality, facilities and potentials, which enabled the conference to achieve its goals, represented in finding solutions for the challenges facing airports management sector, developing Sultanate and China to mechanisms to strengthen ties of investment and economic partnership among airports around the world. They also valued the Omani leading stances in supporting civil strengthen cooperation aviation sector in the region and the world. They appreciated His Majesty’s stances in enhancing bonds of global FRIENDLY TIES: Strategic Consultations Team holds session peace, upon which the Airport well-being on His Majesty the Sultan, focusing on the conference’s sub- Council International (ACI) is based. and the Sultanate further progress and themes, namely ‘Security and Crisis MUSCAT: Yusuf bin Alawi bin achieve goals of sustainable economic During the session, the two sides ACI includes membership of more prosperity. Management Summit, Airport Abdallah, Minister Responsible for development for all. reviewed bilateral relations and than 1,800 airports around the world. The two-day conference was Operations Conference, Digital Foreign Affairs, received in his office Also on Thursday, the 11th round existing cooperation between the two The participants of the conference hosted by the Sultanate, represented Innovation and Big Data, Airport on Thursday Chen Xiaodong, Assistant of the Strategic Consultations Team friendly countries in all diplomatic, also expressed their happiness to view by Oman Airports Management Development Conference’.