Latest news with #ARA
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
This Evo-Powered Mirage Is How Mitsubishi Should Have Done It
Mitsubishi's little Mirage hatchback gets a lot of flack for being a bad car, but I don't think it's a bad car at all. The Mirage served a purpose as one of the least expensive cars on the road, and they're reasonably reliable rides for folks who need inexpensive wheels. That said, I always believed Mitsubishi should have offered a performance version of the Mirage to play up the brand's significant rally heritage. Imagine if Mitsu had beat Toyota to the punch and delivered a Mirage Evo years before there was ever a preliminary planning meeting about the GR Yaris or Corolla. All of the parts were already in the Mitsubishi parts bin, why not sling them together and see what happens? The world loves a hot hatchback. Rally driver Patrick Gruszka has been running basically that very car in the ARA rally series for a few years. The full drivetrain from an Evo X, including the 4B11T engine and S-AWC all-wheel drive system, though the transmission has been replaced by a proper motorsport sequential gearbox. With a full WRC-style widebody kit and "a lot of one off custom in-house R&D stuff that I can't disclose or talk about" this thing looks like a full factory racing effort, but somehow it isn't. Why didn't Mitsubishi race the Mirage? Why didn't Mitsubishi build us a street rally hot hatch for the ages? Alas, for it wasn't to be. We simply must console ourselves with this new rally video from Hoonigan featuring Gruszka and his Mirage. Read more: These Are The Most Annoying Things About Your Cars After several seasons of competition, it's easy to see that this Mirage is a little on the tired side, and Gruszka won't treat the old girl to a proper quiet retirement. Even as the car seems to fall apart around him, he keeps pushing it for everything it has. With the front differential not putting the power down, the car still managed to be the fastest so far around Hoonigan's secret California rally test facility. At full-send mode the engine finally decides it has had enough and blows up just shy of the finish line, robbing the world, and Patrick, of an even faster lap time. This is a really cool car and I hope it gets rebuilt again and again to keep the flame of hope alive that a Mirage isn't just a boring commuter. Every car has potential, even the Mirage. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Observer
17-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
Trial cultivation of camelina for biofuel kicks off in Oman
MUSCAT: In a groundbreaking move aimed at advancing green energy and sustainable agriculture, Hema Energy—through its alternative energy arm X2E LLC—has commenced a trial cultivation of Camelina sativa in Oman in collaboration with ARA Petroleum LLC. In an interview with the Oman Daily Observer, Azzan Moghrob Rashid al Asmy, Group Managing Director of Hema Energy and General Manager for Oman, UAE & KSA, confirmed that the trial marks a first-of-its-kind initiative in the region, reflecting the company's drive to pioneer climate-smart solutions. 'Our motivation was to create a full-cycle model that ensures zero waste while establishing a sustainable feedstock source for biofuels,' Al Asmy said. 'Camelina sativa was a natural choice—it's a hardy oilseed crop with a short life cycle and the potential to produce up to 40% oil by weight, making it ideal for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel production.' The initiative is being carried out under a formal agreement signed earlier this year between Hema Energy and ARA. Dr Omar al Jaidi, Vice President of ARA, and Azzan al Asmy signed the contract on behalf of their respective organisations. The trial is being hosted on land provided by ARA, which is also supplying water and financial backing to support the project's implementation. 'ARA stepped forward to turn vision into action,' Al Asmy explained. 'They offered not only land and water, but also the commitment to co-fund the trial. This partnership is a crucial step in moving beyond MoUs and into real-world impact.' The Camelina project dovetails with Hema Energy's broader strategy, branded as 'the greener barrel'—an energy model that emphasises maximum reuse and minimal waste. Hema's biofuel facility has been operational since 2021, and the company now aims to integrate Camelina into its portfolio as a local source of bio-based feedstock. 'Everything we do under our X2E unit revolves around converting waste into opportunity,' said Al Asmy. 'We treat produced water from oil fields and are now exploring ways to use this treated water for Camelina cultivation. It's a win-win: waste reuse and green fuel production. The environmental potential of the project is significant. In addition to reducing dependency on fossil feedstocks, the trial supports Oman's national goals for water reuse. Hema Energy is also in discussions with Nama Group to explore use of treated municipal wastewater for future Camelina plantations. Still, challenges remain. 'The main hurdle isn't the climate—it's coordination,' Al Asmy emphasised. 'We see wastewater reuse as a matter of national security, but aligning various government bodies on this issue remains a critical bottleneck.' Despite this, the company is optimistic. The trial phase will help assess Camelina's adaptability to Oman's arid climate, which, according to Al Asmy, shares similarities with the plant's native environment. While the current trial does not involve other stakeholders, the Environmental Authority has been kept in the loop, given the pioneering nature of the project. If successful, Hema Energy plans to expand the cultivation near oilfields and other wastewater sources—and potentially abroad. 'Assuming the pilot delivers good results, we're looking at scaling up in Oman and even exploring less climate-challenged environments like parts of Africa,' Al Asmy concluded. 'This is more than a trial—it's a blueprint for sustainable energy and agriculture in tandem.' With this initiative, Hema Energy reinforces its role as a regional leader in sustainable innovation, combining technical agility with environmental responsibility.
Otago Daily Times
16-05-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
'Stressful, burnt out' Christchurch health workers meet to share their struggles and horror stories
By Rachel Graham of RNZ Spinal patients having to wait for specialist care, psychiatrists struggling to keep up with the workload and student nurses eyeing up Australia before they are even fully trained - these were just some of the stories shared at a meeting about the health system in Christchurch. The meeting was organised by the Nurses Organisation, as a chance for people to come together and talk about the pressures they are facing. After 18 years working as a district nurse, union delegate Maree Vincent said she has never seen conditions so bad. "Stressful, burnt out nurses, huge patient loads, pay inequities, no pay parity, and funding not being dropped down to the primary health to keep going." She said one of the joys of her role was getting to know her patients, but that was harder when workers were increasingly short on time. Trainee nurse and the national student representative for ARA polytech, Dawn Blyth said student nurses were also feeling the stressed, with many struggling with the high cost of living while doing unpaid clinical placements and no certainty of a job at the end of their training. "Even last year in our first year, a lot of students in our cohort were talking then - I'm going to go to Australia, because the pay is better and there are more jobs over there," said Blyth. Carin Conaghan is a psychiatrist at Christchurch's Hillmorton Hospital and a delegate with the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists. She said her sector, too, was under more pressure than ever. "Our staff are having increased workloads," Conaghan said, "in terms of the number of people they are managing. The people that we are seeing are coming in more unwell. And that is impacting on staff's well being." She said more psychiatrists were leaving the public sector each year than joining it. Conaghan said in the past, people accepted that the pay in New Zealand was less than in countries such as Australia or the UK, but the working conditions were the draw card. But that was no longer the case. She said psychiatrists were getting paid up to 60% less in New Zealand than in Australia. Andrew Hall, national programme manager of the New Zealand Spinal Trust, said the problems within the health sector for people with spinal injuries could feel overwhelming. "Waitlist to get into the spinal service, two spinal unit(s) in New Zealand both of which have long waitlists," Hall said. "New acutes are waiting in the acute hospitals to come across to the units because of a lack of space. And some innovative things having to be done to manage people in private hospitals, for people who would normally be in care in the spinal units." Health administrator and PSA delegate Nancy McShane said she and others fought for 13 years to get pay equity for administration and clerical workers, which was settled in 2022. In 2023 McShane received a Queen's Service Medal for Services to Women and Equal Pay for that work. She said the recent changes to the pay equity system will have a terrible impact on the health system. "I think about the care workers in particular. This really angers me. They had a claim before us. They opened the door to all the other pay equity claims, and now they have had the rug pulled out from under their feet," McShane said. She said rest home care was already in crisis, and the changes to the Equal Pay Amendment Act will only make the situation worse.
Muscat Daily
13-05-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
ARA showcases innovation, safety excellence at OPES 2025
ARA Petroleum (ARA), the energy arm of The Zubair Corporation, proudly announces its participation in the Oman Petroleum & Energy Show (OPES) 2025, which officially opens on Monday under the patronage of H E Salim bin Nasser al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals. Held at the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, this year's event is themed 'Affordable, Sustainable, and Clean Energy Solutions'. As one of Oman's leading exploration and production companies, ARA Petroleum enters OPES 2025 with a continued focus on environmental and social responsibility, innovation, and operational excellence. The exhibition provides a vital platform for ARA to engage with partners, collaborators, innovators, and contractors who are shaping the future of the energy sector. 'This year at OPES, ARA is proud to highlight the innovations driving our operational excellence – from digital solutions to sustainable practices that reduce environmental impact,' said Omar al Jaaidi, Vice President of ARA Petroleum. 'But what truly sets us apart is our people. Their dedication to safety, performance, and responsible energy is at the heart of everything we do.' A key highlight of this year's participation is ARA's recognition in the 2024 OPAL Award for Best Practices, where it secured First Place in the 'Operator' category for Health and Safety, selected from over 200 countries. This prestigious accolade celebrates ARA's Integrated QHSSE Digital AI Solution (Mfano) – a powerful testament to the company's commitment to safety, innovation, and continuous improvement. Visitors to the ARA Petroleum booth will have the opportunity to explore the company's latest automation, emissions reduction, and community engagement initiatives. A central feature will be an interactive showcase of the OPAL Award-winning project, underscoring ARA's leadership in cultivating a strong health and safety culture. ARA's participation in OPES 2025 directly aligns with Oman Vision 2040, reaffirming the company's mission to support a cleaner, safer, and more resilient energy future. ARA is a dynamic member of the Exploration & Production industry in Oman and Tanzania. The company is a full cycle E&P company which explores, appraises, develops and produces oil & gas resources both in Oman and internationally.
Hamilton Spectator
10-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Tensions flare at Anmore council meeting over Anmore South referendum demand
Competing delegations clashed at a contentious Anmore council meeting on Tuesday night over a call for a referendum to decide the future of the largest development in the village's history. On one side, representatives from the Anmore Neighbours Community Association (ARCA) and the Anmore Residents Association (ARA) accused Anmore South's public engagement process as being flawed, biased, and 'developer dominated.' However, Icona Properties' CEO Greg Moore argued the engagement has been extensive, community-led, and supported by a majority of residents. The level of support among Anmore residents has been a frequent point of debate as the project has advanced through council. 'Our council and city officials are conducting this process by putting the cart before the horse. They have forgotten to ask the primary questions: do we want it or not?' said Neil Lyons, an ARA director. 'Only a referendum can fix this tainted process.' The development on Anmore's southwest border, dubbed Anmore South, is a 151-acre plan to develop 2,200 units in a variety of forms such as single-family houses, duplexes, townhomes, and low-rise apartments up to six storeys. The plan also features commercial spaces, parks, a community centre, and an extensive trail network, and a connection to Metro Vancouver's wastewater system If approved, the project could nearly triple Anmore's current population over the next two decades. Icona submitted an application to amend the village's official community plan (OCP) in 2023, and council has since moved it past first reading, approved the neighbourhood plan's terms of reference, and endorsed a village-led community engagement plan . Anmore has received technical studies from Icona, and recently presented the findings to the public at an open house in April 2025. But despite a significant amount of public engagement to date, local groups claim the engagement plan and technical studies are designed to lend support to the development without an actual mandate from the community. Rod Rempel, a representative of the recently formed ARCA, called into question the credibility of the technical studies, calling them 'misleading.' ARCA has gone as far as commissioning its own technical experts to poke holes in the work. 'Technical studies were clearly done with a goal to provide positive feedback regarding the Icona's plan,' Rempel said. 'Issues of paramount importance like an evacuation plan, traffic, population growth, housing types, economic viability, ecology and our village lifestyle were oversimplified and overlooked.' Moore said when Icona first made submissions to council in 2021, the project was a key topic of discussion during the 2022 municipal election. He noted Mayor John McEwen clearly stated he did not want single-family homes developed on the property, while his challenger, Mario Piamonte, said he would only support one-acre lots. McEwen won with 67.8 percent of the votes. 'That seems like a pretty clear direction from this community,' Moore said. 'This isn't anything new – when a NIMBY group gets together and starts to tackle an issue.' Moore, who was once the mayor of Port Coquitlam, said it was 'disingenuous' for some residents to claim there has not been an opportunity to engage, noting there have been 28 different public engagements to date. He said there are people who don't want growth, and would rather see Icona's property remain a forest, but they are outnumbered by those who want closer commercial space, amenities, and a diversity of housing. 'It's just mind boggling,' Moore said. 'I cannot think of one process when I was a city planner or at Metro Vancouver that went through and engaged the community that many times.' A recent survey emailed to every household in Anmore as part of the village's communication plan should give council the 'conclusive' direction it needs, Moore added. Regarding criticism of the technical studies, Moore said it's up to the council to determine which party is more credible. During question period at the close of the meeting, council was hounded by residents who refused to refrain from speaking about the Anmore South application. Anmore recently updated its procedure bylaw , prohibiting residents from asking questions about items that could be subject to a public hearing due to legal concerns associated with Bill 44. Mayor McEwen ended up adjourning the meeting early due to the barrage of out-of-order questions. A previous meeting on April 15 ended in the same fashion.
