Can't play footie from 9 pm, esp with turbulent lads so do the routine brisk walk/push-ups/stretching; we lost a shining bro earlier to duties and did not met another favorite in his days off but we did talk. A hot bath, prayers, turmeric tea etc to protect genes and telomeres. There is something that so deeply attract me to anyone with a modicum of morality or basic ethics (no major lies/backbiting/envy) that its such a joy to serve them in every way possible; you'd like to make excuses for just seeing them, particularly if they are smarter and better informed than usual as it tends to be the case. Come to think about it, this looks like a neat motivator (struggling to serve the "good people"). Easily one of your very best spent hour and extremely interesting even if well-informed (fascinating new field of epigenetics: thoughts and lifestyle controlling gene expression, hence your health & future children) :

N.O.R.F;894990 wrote: Djibouti sounds good saxib. But the place is like an oven Wyre, dee whats your number? It's mostly hot in June-Aug; T. may get there later; plus, it's on Xamar's route anyway. Wyre and co should be very pleased, hope the welcoming committee will do a fine job. wcs Ibtisam, Nomads are indeed less calculating, the kind of innocence we tend to be robbed of with age...it's not necessarily more ethical. To me, even Arabsiyo would qualify as half-miyi even now, so there may be a balance to be striked...

A certain "secessionist" I was so fond of escaped, feel like jumping on the next flight; people are moving away in a hurry these days sole consolation is he's 1 hour or so away from home now...we'll wait there or visit him

Saudi? You guys need to establish secure channels of communication

Those Cubans are sending a range of consultants via their local amb. as per RTD.dj...if only few could cross into somalia, such clinical skills are the most critical ones (esp. for teaching hospitals). Any city or even local Carrefour supermarkets in France beat O. street for cheap quality if not choice, esp around january, post celebrations or July "soldes" promotions; but then again perfumes and bargains are online too (SportsDirect, the catalogues La Redoute, les 3 suisses)... Calm and high-tech city just South of Paris:

hated some subjects but loved others, anyway lost steam later; know many top comrades who did not finish univ. (albeit with plum positions thanks to their dads), while some struggling earlier did much better later on (esp. outside the more theoritical institutions in France, in Canada, Malaysia etc). Ironically, there are smart, well read, well rounded people who did not dwell much on sciences or maths, or even had broad subjects choice, not even went to demanding courses or univ. (smarts must be genetics partially and about drive or curiosity too)

Had the same fleeting thoughts too (Lincoln has interesting facets like other usually more morally ambiguous founding fathers); and yes we are far away from a society with men as Thomas Paine and idealist intellectuals taking the lead (the reason why we can't be simply compared with the 19th USA and its ethnic, class and other divisions; it's more the refinement of the elites that counts more than any other thing). Look, Eritreans are patriot and prioritized litteracy/healthcare/public works or equality and volunteering spirit, all with great inventiveness even in guerilla times (surpassing similar countries soon after their recent independence); I'd settle for that more modest aim since Che's Cuba extraordinary achievements with constrained resources is out of our reach before wider mentality revolution (albeit neither were plagued with qat or qabil)...

Well, univ libraries tend to be better and are often easily accessible, can't get bored with books at hand; remember reading about P Samuelson, why econ. planning fails and so did it in India for decades, physiocrats economists or oil curse in mexico, nigeria etc around 10 years ago when going through dad shelves while having fun with linear algebra (70s books were still very relevant and neat). Maybe I would have made a great banker had I had patience for those things; having many interests and being good in diff. subjects was my undoing

asc all So what is in in Hargeysa apart from cafes? No library (saw the old Egyptian one) or park?

JB come on man, you know very well the Shariah position on democracy a la Western and this wadaad is just saying what all the sheikhs say inside mosques; him founding a political platform, whether as competing with other parties or as an ad-hoc association, doesn't change the most basic right to religious freedom (did he explicitely call everyone apostate?). That is unless we ask him to rewrite the Shariah as other politicians opinion here is utterly irrelevant; likewise for his diplomatic skills or lack thereof .

Complicated;892913 wrote: Some of you have historically been good at checking the source of the story in question but, since this is all about Saudi Arabia then any "news site" that prints the brutality of these savage Arabs must be believed Well said Complicated; as Africans we have much bigger concerns (French neocolonialism, resources plundering, environment & desertification etc) than Saudis who are major WFP donors and leading by far ahead in terms of aid vs GDP. Look at the French consulate in Jeddah celebrating few women attending an art exposition in their building with uncovered heads while denying basic health training to even the poorest country whose resources and citizens they are still terribly abusing and relying heavily upon...

Had to accompany this old chap with multiple pathologies, probably including gastritis and TB but with diagnosis still mysterious for all the testing; had to request basics such as pilory bacteria test but hope he'll follow through if I'm not there as doctors barely care. Come to think about all the needless suffering endured by lonely, old or illiterate fellas, my own issues seemed a bit obscene. Ordered urgent things but received them late again despite extra fees. So Ngonge do you play mother Theresa too and how far along do you usually sacrifice without getting renumerated?

Djibouti finalising finances for new ports By Beatrice Gachenge NAIROBI (Reuters) - Djibouti's port authority is close to securing $4.4 billion from international banks to finance the building of five new ports in the next four years to meet growing demand for trade boosted by South Sudan's gaining of independence. The horn of Africa nation's main port primarily serves its landlocked neighbour Ethiopia, which accounts for about 70 percent of traffic, but began handling landlocked South Sudan's trade after the country seceded from Sudan in July. Traffic through the port, run by Dubai's DP World, the world's third-largest port operator, is seen as a key economic indicator for the region as a whole. DP World also runs the Doraleh Container Terminal, with an annual handling capacity of 1.2 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units). "Our total investment in the port and marine services related business is $4.4 billion for the five ports and dry dock development and free zones," Aboubaker Omar Hadi, chairman of the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority told Reuters. "We have secured up to 85 percent. We are discussing with our traditional lenders. We are hoping to conclude and finalise the issue of financing in the coming weeks," he said, speaking on the sidelines of an infrastructure conference in Kenya's capital, Nairobi. Hadi said that besides loans from China, Brazil and the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), the port would be financed up to 35 percent from internal revenues. Some of the new ports will include Tadjourah, located on the north coast of Djibouti which is expected to handle 4 million tonnes of potash exports a year and Port of Goubet will have a capacity of 4.5 million tonnes a year of salt exports both by end of 2013. Funds for another, the Damerjog livestock port, and phase II of Tadjourah are yet to be secured, Hadi said. BE LIKE TANGIER, DURBAN PORTS Djibouti's container port handled 705,000 TEUs in the whole of 2011 and that will rise further this year. "We are going to end this year with 900,000 TEUs, so we hope by mid-2013 Djibouti will be the third African port to cross the 1 million TEUs, after Durban and Tangier in Morocco," Hadi said. The tiny red sea nation also plans to handle cargo from other landlocked countries in the east African region as well as parts of southern Africa, taking advantage of congestion at Kenya's main port, Mombasa. "What we are expecting in terms of (total) throughput in South Sudan volume currently, is 6.5 million tonnes," Hadi said, referring to the potential trade of South Sudan. "Out of the 6.5 million tonnes, we are planning to move through Djibouti, 70 percent. This would be 15-20 percent of the total volume of Djibouti port," he said, adding it would be achieved in the next 12 months. South Sudan, building from scratch after years of civil war with the north, raised its shipment volumes through Kenya's port in 2011 by 87 percent, becoming the second biggest user of the Mombasa port after Uganda. Djibouti, located on one of the world's busiest maritime sea routes, hosts France's largest military base in Africa plus a major U.S. base, and the port is used by foreign navies patrolling busy shipping lanes off the coast of Somalia to fight piracy. The country also plans to double its main port's container capacity to 3 million TEUs in the next two years, after a $330 million expansion. "We are on the feasibility study ... and it will be completed by May this year, after that we will decide when we are going to start construction," said Hadi. ............................................................................ Cement plant in Ali Sabieh: the project is progressing At the end of a trip made last Wednesday in the capital of the region of Ali Sabieh, the Minister of Economy and Finance, in charge of Industry and Planning, Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, has seen first hand the progress of construction of the plant. The Minister of Economy and Finance, responsible for Industry and Planning, Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, visited Wednesday the chief town of the region of Ali Sabieh where he inspected the construction of the cement . This politician has visited various facilities already erected on site and those nearing completion of the plant. And this in company of several of his collaborators it should be stressed, but also the CEO of Bank of Africa Abdelali Nadifi, prefect Mohamed Waberi Assoweh and President Mohamed Mahamoud Gueldon of the Regional Council of Ali Sabieh. In this trip, Mr. Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh drew some satisfaction in examining the operating system that will monitor all stages of the production chain up to the packing of cement. In a brief statement made on our micro colleagues audiovisual, banker Abdelali Nadifi said the commissioning of the cement plant will have a real impact on developing the country in general and the region of Ali Sabieh in particular. "The Bank of Africa now accompany the Djibouti government in its infrastructure projects," he said in substance. For its part, the Minister of Economy and Finance has confirmed that the inauguration of the cement plant Sabieh Ali is scheduled in the month of December. In this context, Mr. Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh was convinced that the region of Ali Sabieh is promised a bright future..(La Nation) ...................................................................... A second, privately owned Cement plant (larger than the State sponsored facility) [...]the laying of the foundation stone of the second cement project by the President of the Republic, Mr. Ismail Omar Guelleh: the private cement plant "Shoura Djibouti", by the Egyptian giant "Shura Group". The Head of State, who spoke briefly, recalled how the future cement plant strengthen the national process already in place as part of our ongoing fight against poverty. Secondly, President Ismail Omar Guelleh has long challenged the business community in Djibouti to support this noble initiative by participating in the equity of that company. And, already, in the cost of building the plant. The acceptance that others can gain market share and equity in various projects in Djibouti initiated by Shoura Group is clearly one of the constants of the policy of this financial group. Thus, he had already announced yesterday, on the occasion of the inauguration of the bank, its willingness to integrate external capital to its own, up to 40%. "The laying of the cornerstone of the Shura cement plant in Ali Sabieh, djibouti, will provide incentives for the creation of an industrial center. This commitment fits perfectly into the overall objective of the government's industrial policy that promotes establishment of a performing industrial network performance, capable of supporting both upstream and downstream development of agriculture and livestock, valuing natural resources ", said Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Rifki Abdoulkader Bamakhrama, which stated in part that "this project will create at least 200 jobs on site, and constitute therefore a definite answer to the problems of youth unemployment, which affects the region." Else, we should remember that the new plant, whose operation is to take effect after two years of construction, will cover an area of ​​25 hectares. It aims to produce 1.5 million tonnes of cement per year. For a total investment of about U.S. $ 220 million. It thus certain: the importance of its production capacity will end the ever-frequent shortages of cement in the local market and ensuing prices. Forever. And this, with two thirds of the production designated for export. (La Nation)

I can only think about Borreh as one really forced to be in exile while vocal yet pursued by the court for unpaid taxes; but then again he's seen more as a ruthless businessman or an ex close associate of Guelleh. Political prisoners are very few if any (much easier to "remind" judges of taxes evasion and other practices previously tolerated). Everybody knows everybody, you can dine with Borreh today and be a welcome guest for his "ennemies" tomorrow.

UMP coalition (RPP joined by mostly Afar FRUD etc); the local elections were won by new faces and the reforms now allow other parties to sit at the parliament even if defeated nationwide (20% of seats). It's a thin line betwen ethnic rhetorics and allowing different voices; what matters most is anti-corruption an inequalities though for the masses given that everybody has access to favors in one way or another and the country is small (few deeply care about or prioritize politics and many are even more interested with Hargeysa or Xamar updates).

Ucid is overshadowed by faysal's outburst but I think Ummada's Dr Gaboose would tackle the real issues as did his old pal ina Xaashi. Never ever elect anyone not a learned wadad, a long-term philanthropist, an anti-corruption crusader/activist or at the very least an humble clinician (an intellectual wadad/DR is best though a bit like Dr Morsi in Misr).

With the influx of new airlines as well as hotels, even the Kempinsky is offering luxury full packages for as little as $750 (excursion and hotel included: Djibouti Palace Kempinski - Remarkable offers ).

The former Somali president Adan cadde proposed a pan-Ummah organization to king Faysal, thus paving the way to the OIC; this was reminded at the inauguration ceremony by pres. Guelleh and then by the Somali Foreign minister madam Fozia. The Somali FM was at the centre of the major conference in Djibouti (retransmitted on a separate Arabsat channel by the RTD) and keenly briefed about the recent positive developments in Somalia, a key concern for Djibouti but also important members of the vast organization (not least Turkey who invests a lot more regionally nowadays). ........................................................................ Singapor links & investors [...]In response, Mr. Cody Lee, Director of the Division of Global Affairs for the Middle East and Africa area of ​​Singaporean Business Federation, expressed his sincere thanks to his hosts. He insisted thereafter on the timeliness of this movement, because he said, Djibouti and Singapore show strong similarities. Our two countries show similarities, he said, with regard to their size or geographical reduced their small populations or their last pole positions on major routes. In addition, Djibouti and Singapore have preferably focused on certain sectors including typical service activities to support their economies, he added. In light of all these factors, he continued, we must encourage the development of a strong economic partnership and trade relations between Djibouti and Singapore. Then it was the turn of the members of the delegation of Singapore to present their individual sectors and their radius of action and their respective investment prospects for Djibouti. Djibouti ... a virgin market that asserts itself in the heart of a network of partners well established on the continent. After the usual introductions, place to the technical presentations with details and specifics strengths. President of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Said Omar Moussa, is responsible for the initial projections. In this sense, he brilliantly gave one comprehensive overview of all the key elements in the economic health of our country. Intuitively, it puts the spotlight on the fact that our aggregates and macroeconomic indicators are all green. Thus, he was able to develop his presentation on the evolution of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP acronym), while emphasizing its rapid growth over the last decade. In addition, he showed his pride in the growth our economy has been surfing on for many years. With his natural composure, he recalled that our currency, the Djiboutian franc, has a fixed parity with the American Dollar with all that this implies in continued momentum of our import and export activities to leave us with a large trade balance surplus. The boom has a positive effect in our dealings with our partners in the Comesa market, he said. Our country consitutes a virgin market and especially a gateway to a market subsequent to the hundreds of millions of consumers across the sub-region and between our immediate neighbors in Northern and Southern parts of the continent. The flexibility of our investment code has permitted the massive influx of foreign direct investment and port services such as the free zone favored the emergence of a flourishing trade. He closed his presentation on the exceptional quality of services offered by our ports and our zone and then he gave the microphone to President Authorities Ports and Free Zones, Mr. Omar Hadi Aboubaker. Billions of U.S. Dollars soon injected into our port infrastructure... Echoing the presentations, Mr. Aboubaker Omar Hadi initially announced major lines of topics related to port infrastructure. He planned to take stock of existing infrastructure and future expansions and construction of new ports and terminals at several sites in the country. It can hold among the forecasts, titanic construction projects of new ports and terminals or free zones and storage terminals. For example, a terminal for the repair and maintenance of ships at a cost of 400 million U.S. dollars will be created. Similarly, an oil terminal at a cost of 50 million U.S. dollars will be operational in the same period. Ports in Tadjourah and Goubet, whose respective estimated costs amounted to 180 million U.S. dollars and 64 million U.S. dollars, are also provided.Free Zones in Khor Ambado and Jabanas will also be set up. A terminal for the processing of Natural Gas Liquid will be added to the oil port of Doraleh. On the other hand, a port of landing for cattle will spring up in Damerjog. Besides, the upcoming construction of an airport village in Damerjog will have cargo and freight capacities. Finally, the new company Djibouti Shipping Company 'will emerge. The total cost of these investments amount to a whopping 4,301 billion U.S. dollars and covers a period of three years from the year 2012. Needless to say, our Singaporeans friends were heavily impressed at the end of these presentations which gave them food for thought. They have in this sense asked all the clarifications necessary to seize all investment opportunities that were available to them in the context of massive expansions. They then engaged in individual and vivid exchanges with contractors in Djibouti. The Djiboutian business community strongly represented at the occasion, warmly gave great detail and clarification on growth areas and key sectors of our economy in order to facilitate their entry into our economic fabric. The meeting was concluded by the exchange of gifts between the CCD and the Federation of Enterprises in Singapore. This first meeting bodes well for the beginning of a new partnership and a desired increase in economic relations between the business communities of the two countries (ministere-finances.dj) ............................................................ The Port of Djibouti is now the second largest port after the Durban one to have such a facility in Eastern and Southern Africa [...]It also demonstrates the willingness of the manager to provide the means of its ambitions to completely modernize the port of Djibouti. Indeed, AID has made significant investments in purchases of modular floating dock, a floating bridging, twelve Mafi tractors, five 45-ton trucks and two new powerful tugs to serve the next generation of vessels that are already available on site. Incidentally, eight trailers will soon be delivered to the Port of Djibouti. As acquisitions, they are part of the development of the port infrastructure and will optimize the safety conditions of services or assistance to ships the PAID undertakes for all other ports and terminals in Djibouti.[...] [...]These equipment enabling repairs to be carried out at the local level, are synonymous with savings in time and costs for the Port of Djibouti. While they were once outsourced abroad. The Port of Djibouti is now the second largest port after the Durban one to have such a facility in Eastern and Southern Africa.(Lanation)

This is competition for state resources (and power lust); no substance or ideologies. It's about time politicians pay was modelled on those in the public service; there is progress but I think $130 000 for the old man (plus the palace discretionary budget) and $30 000 for his ministers is quite generous when most lack even the basics or a public doctor earn $6000. No public office should be renumerated anything close as to what a doctor receive, let alone more (save in banana republics of course). Everybody dreams of public office rather than nursing, teaching or useful sciences in general (students on scholarships abroad give up to choose asylum ). Examples of patriotism and self-sacrifice should come from the top. .

^Reading (less and less laborious with a bit of time; get a decent bilingual dictionary initially such as the Hans Wehr) or Islamic channels should be enough (was it Sharjah or Shariqah for example? I don't watch TV usually). the companion website for Mastering Arabic Series Suggestions from the same page: Mini books attractive for the younger ones (or learner). PS: living in a native country is way overrated, in particular these days; we used to order free sample issues of Time magazine and it's amazing how little interest (plus revision with the Auralog software, which was much cheaper on the other Amazon site) resulted in dramatic change in our English (just force yourself initially and find interesting or engaging practice material). Funnily I even get free revision from a little watching of the RTD Arabic news lately (or the Djib FM talking to guests).

Talking about arabic, apart from the computer based "Tell me more" serie by Auralog, this proved quite good: Mastering Arabic 2. And yes, you can acquire the very basics in many ways and since there is lots of redundance, the intermediate levels onwards are best. Arabic grammar is very regular and straightforward up to advanced levels, so should be much of the vocabulary (besides related words derive from a common root: kataba, maktub, maktaba, kaatib from ktb). Anyway, it all boils down to small but regular practice in whatever form and anyone can pull it (especially with the kind of resources available these days, for free or very little)...

It's a binational owned entity that got the deal from Toyota, just like another guy got exclusivity with Isuzu (or with GSK, insulin brands etc). In principle, this seems fair no. On another note, came accross this serie of papers, a bit dated though maybe, on different local trades: http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ministere-finances.dj%2FPublications%2FLOCAVOIT.HTM

Norf mashallah; delay it by a week, we need to show you enough love before the ultimate goodbye.

Norf, I'm so reassured bro; it's noted it's good you asked that question about toyota dealership, interesting findings and some old post about their inroad in sland: http://www.groupe-marill.com/english/djibouti/ http://www.somaliaonline.com/community/showthread.php/62666-Somaliland-Toyota-Marill-to-establish-an-Office

Noticed much better sleep if stopped caffeine at noon; we still hopefully got a few celebrations. Couldn't believe people learning Somali just to evangelise; had another dedicated guy preaching and giving away "injiilta sida luuqos u qoray" or gospel according to Luke. He left disturbed only after the 1st question: why Torah laws were abrogated by St Paul when evangelising the West when the early christians abided by pork taboo or circumcision (not to mention other key changes after initial centuries). Didn't even have the opportunity to ask about the even more crucial one, ie the rationale to accept the bible while rejecting the Quran.