Additional IA flights taking expats from Kuwait

Dubai,Wednesday, March 19, 2003: As fear of war gripped the Gulf following US President George W Bush's 48-hour ultimatum to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, national carriers Air India and Indian Airlines are operating additional flights from Kuwait to carry Indian expatriates back home on an emergency basis. Indian Airlines is operating an additional flight today while the Air India was trying to get a bigger aircraft to fly Thursday to tackle an unexpected demand, K J S Sodhi, a senior diplomat with the Indian embassy in Kuwait said. "One of the companies here decided to send home 300 Indian workers fearing war and this has put additional pressure on demand. Except for this there is no sign of an exodus" Sodhi said. However, the president of the Gulf Malayalees Welfare Association, Rajan Daniel said more people were willing to go back to India but there were no seats available.

"The national carriers had assured that enough flights will be diverted to meet any surge in demand. But when it comes to the crunch, enough additional flights are not being operated," he said. Sodhi said the Kuwait Civil Aviation Authority had informed that the airport will remain open as long as the safety of aircraft are not under threat. The Indian national carriers had no plans to stop flights, he added. Meanwhile, the Indian community is worried whether the war will affect the conduct of the CBSE examinations. Some five exams are yet to be held on the request of the Indian mission. There are around four lakh Indian expatriates in Kuwait.

US forces take positions, Saddam defiant

Dubai,Wednesday, March 19, 2003: With barely hours left for the American deadline to Saddam Hussein and his sons to leave the country, US-led coalition forces in the Gulf today took up battle positions but the defiant Iraqi president told countrymen to be ready for the "last battle" against the US. Thousands of US marines set off in tanks, armoured vehicles and trucks across Kuwait desert to take up battle positions and messages were broadcast from US warships and aircraft telling Iraqi troops how to surrender.With about 250,000 US and British combat troops along with massive Naval armada and hundreds of warplanes poised to attack Iraq, its Parliament held an emergency session with defiant chants of support for Saddam Hussein. US has said that even if Saddam Hussein went into exile with his two sons Udai and Qusai, its forces would enter into Iraq to hunt for weapons of mass destruction.

US President George W Bush on Tuesday gave Saddam Hussein and his two sons to leave the country by 0630 Hrs (IST) Thursday or face "military conflict". Iraqi parliamentarians rallied behind the Iraqi leader. "We are dedicated to martyrdom in defence of Iraq under your leadership. The people don't accept a leader except you," lawmakers said in a message to Saddam.Saddam Hussein himself appeared on television dressed in military uniform and asked his commanders to prepare for the battle."This battle will be Iraq's last battle against tyrannous, villainous and last battle of aggression undertaken by America against Arabs," he declared.

FBI issues alert on Iraq sympathisers in US, al-Qaeda strikes

New York,Wednesday, March 19, 2003: The US law enforcement authorities will start detaining dozens of suspected sympathisers of President Saddam Hussein in at least five US cities, even as FBI issued an alert warning of possible strikes by al-Qaeda terror network in which they could use chemical, biological or radiological weapons. "The U.S. intelligence community believes that terrorists will attempt multiple attacks against U.S. and coalition targets worldwide in the event of a U.S.-led military campaign against Saddam Hussein," the FBI alert said."Al Qaeda may be in the last stages of planning for large-scale attacks. There are many recent indications this planning includes the use of chemical, biological, and/or radiological materials," it added. Iraqi agents are also "inconsistently competent" at a variety of terrorist tactics, the alert said, including "assassinations, armed assaults, hijackings, kidnappings, and bombings."

"Al Qaeda's interest in cyanide and other poisonous gases, and reporting that the group would use them in enclosed spaces, suggests the group may attempt to employ such weapons in buildings or in aircraft or in subway or railway cars," the bulletin added. According to the alert, the Iraqi agents have the expertise to "construct sophisticated improvised explosive devices," ABC television network reported.The alert comes as the nation is put on high alert and law enforcement officers are out in full strength to ensure that nothing untoward happens. 

Info2cell.com gears to provide enhanced SMS Breaking News coverage on war situation

Expanded editorial team to transmit news updates to mobile phone subscribers in 6 Arab countries

March 19, 2003

Info2cell.com, Middle East's leading wireless information service provider, has made arrangements for enhanced SMS Breaking News coverage to its subscribers in the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan and Egypt, in view of the current war situation in the region.Info2cell, now fully owned by Acotel, the leading European wireless application service provider, has expanded its editorial team and sought inputs from its international partner to meet the projected increased demand for its SMS Breaking News service. It has also made provisions for a 24-hour service in countries where the service provider permits it.

"We are fully geared to meet an increased demand for our SMS Breaking News due to the impending US attack on Iraq and its fallout on the region," said Bashar Dahabra, Founder and CEO of Info2cell.com. "As the leading wireless information service provider, Info2cell.com has invested in additional resources, including an expanded editorial team, to provide an objective and professional news service to mobile phone users in the region. In addition, we will leverage the expertise of the content management team at Acotel in Rome to enrich our coverage and add value to our service. We will live by our motto of letting our subscribers be the first to know whenever a major story breaks out."

Info2cell.com has projected that the heightened demand would lead to a 50 per cent increase in subscription to the SMS Breaking News service, boosting the subscriber figure to 150,000 subscribers from the current 100,000. "Having set the standards in wireless messaging, Info2cell.com is ready to move several steps further in this specialty area at a time when SMS messaging is gaining a wide following and technology is expanding the scope of wireless messaging," said Dahabra. "In the past, Info2cell.com has been able to sometimes beat satellite television in speed of transmitting breaking stories. With our expanded team and greater expertise we are geared to do even better."

Mobile phone users can receive the SMS Breaking News as it happens by subscribing to the service by dialing a given number or sending a subscription message to a preset number. Mobile phone users in the UAE can dial 122 for prepaid WASEL subscribers or 125 for GSM subscribers. In Bahrain, subscribers can send the SMS "2" for English sms service and "1" for Arabic sms service to 5555, while subscribers in Kuwait can send the SMS "1" for Arabic sms service or "2" for English sms service to 804. In Jordan, Fastlink subscribers can send the SMS "News" for English sms service and "Akhbar" for Arabic sms service to 1444 and in Qatar, Qtel subscribers can join the service by calling the customer care center 110.

Duboats enters the leisure boating market in the Middle East

Announces tie-up with France's leading boat manufacturer Bénéteau

March 19, 2003
Duboats, a new company founded by the Bin Zayed Group to cater to the increasing demands of Middle East's fast growing leisure boating market is making its debut at the Dubai International Boat Show to be held from March 19 to March 22, 2003. The company will showcase its international product range including sailing and powerboats at the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club during the show.

Waterfront properties with emphasis on marina developments and facilities, as well as international water sport events such as power boat races in the region have resulted in increasing levels of interest in the sailing and powerboat sectors. Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE have all begun major projects that focus on waterfront properties, which offer both leisure and commercial opportunities to companies in the boating industry. Duboats has partnered with select industry leaders to offer a wide range of sailing and power boats to meet the multifaceted demands by clients in the GCC region - be it cruises, sport fishing or power racing. The company is drawing on the industry's top-notch international expertise within a local setting to identify and meet the specific requirements of the GCC market.
"The growth potential of the marine sector in the Middle East region is immense. The ongoing development of waterfront properties and the facilities being created to accommodate the influx of new powerboats, yachts and cruise liners bodes well for this rapidly progressing industry. High disposable incomes, a superb coastline and the fast expanding tourism sector will all contribute to the leisure boating industry, " said His Excellency Sheikh Khalid Bin Zayed Bin Saqer Al Nehayan, Chairman of Duboats.

Focused on this growth and the GCC requirements, Duboats has signed an agreement with the Bénéteau Group, the world's largest recreational boat manufacturer, which has a 120-year old boating tradition, to promote its products in the GCC region. The Bénéteau Group has earned wide reputation and commercial success for its quality products and services and has a 22% market share in sailing boats worldwide. Duboats will display top-of-the range powerboats at the Middle East International Boat Show, including the new Antares 13.80, the Flyer Viva 9.20 and the Flyer 650. Sailing enthusiasts will also be able to view the 'cruiser-racer' First 260 Spirit from Bénéteau. "The selection of Duboats' product range, which includes long-haul luxury yachts, catamarans, sailboats and power boats, has been made taking into consideration the short and long term development of the marine industry in the GCC. Development is picking up in terms of berths, yacht clubs and sailing facilities, which, added to the calm and warm waters of the Gulf, is expected to increase the demand on all types and price-range of boats," said Christophe Vanek, General Manager, Duboats.