In Friday's Middle East papers

23 November 2007 04:30  [Source: ICIS news]

MUMBAI (ICIS news)--These were the top stories at 4:30 GMT in the following Middle-East newspapers’ online versions on Friday. ICIS has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. To go to the individual websites, click the links below:

The Times of Oman
Front Page

Pakistan court clears way for Musharraf's 2nd term
Pakistan's Supreme Court, stacked with judges friendly to President Pervez Musharraf, threw out a final challenge to his re-election and paved the way for him to quit as army chief.

Iran to hold atomic talks with EU
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator said on Thursday he will meet the EU foreign policy chief on 30 November over the country's atomic work, which the West fears is a cover to build an atomic bomb.

Business

NBO officials attend MSM meet
For the third time, National Bank of Oman (NBO) officials attended a gathering organised by the Muscat Securities Market (MSM).

Carrefour to enter India's retail sector
France's Carrefour SA, the world's second largest retailer, plans to enter India's fast-growing retail market by 2009, reports said Wednesday.

Oman Tribune
Front Page

Sultanate to attend ME meet
The Sultanate on Thursday said it will participate in the US-sponsored peace meeting as Arab foreign ministers, meeting in Cairo mulled whether to join the conference.

Curfew lifted in Kolkata
Shops reopened, children went back to school and a curfew was lifted in Kolkata on Thursday hours after the army took to the streets to prevent further riots over the killing of villagers.

Business

Euro hits new high against greenback
The dollar's misfortune was extended on Thursday with the euro striking a new record high against the greenback as investors shunned risk amid gloomy prospects for the US economy, dealers said.

Record oil prices, economic growth spur IPO boom in Gulf
Stock flotations are booming in the Gulf region, spurred by strong economic growth, a wealth of spare cash created by record-high oil prices and government encouragement, market specialists say.

Khaleej Times
Front Page

Arab leaders "optimistic" about Mideast peace talks
The Egyptian, Jordanian and Palestinian leaders expressed optimism on Thursday over the outcome of a US-sponsored peace conference next week.

Iran heeding transparency plan, more needed
The UN nuclear watchdog chief said on Thursday Iran was clarifying its atomic work on schedule but must intensify cooperation to resolve remaining questions this year.

Business

UAE cuts rates as markets test Gulf pegs to dollar
The United Arab Emirates cut interest rates on Thursday, aiming to deter market bets that Gulf Arab oil producers will eventually let their currencies rise against the sinking dollar.

Gold up on ailing dollar; metals slide
Gold rose above $800 an ounce on Thursday as an ailing dollar stumbled further, while oil prices steadied in quiet Thanksgiving trade and base metals fell on fears a US economic slowdown could hit demand.

Arab Times
Front Page

Desert art in danger at Egypt's new tourism frontier
A rising tide of travellers seeking out the new frontier of Egyptian tourism is threatening priceless rock art preserved for millennia in one of the most-isolated reaches of the Sahara.

Dubai exchange plans world's first LNG contract
The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) is planning to launch a liquefied natural gas futures contract on its exchange soon, as surging energy prices increase demand for hedging tools, its chief executive officer said.

Business

Gulf Bank senior lead arranger in loan to Dubai World
Gulf Bank has announced that it is a Senior Lead Arranger in a $5bn syndicated loan to the Dubai World Corporation to provide financing for general corporate purposes including acquisitions and investments.

Shuaa cuts FY ’07 estimates on NMTC
Shuaa Capital lowered its full year 2007 and long-term financial forecasts for Kuwait’s National Mobile Telecommunications (Wataniya). Earlier in the month, Wataniya, a unit of Qatar Telecommunications posted a 27.2% drop in third-quarter profit, missing most analysts’ forecasts.

Arab News
Front Page

Sovereignty of all countries must be respected: Sultan
Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, was awarded yesterday an honorary doctorate at the prestigious Moscow State University of International Relations University in appreciation of his efforts to promote international cooperation and security.

Musharraf gets all-clear from supreme court
Pakistan’s Supreme Court yesterday threw out a final challenge to President General Pervez Musharraf’s re-election and paved the way for him to quit as army chief.

Business

Stock flotations are booming in Gulf region
Stock flotations are booming in the Gulf region, spurred by strong economic growth, a wealth of spare cash created by record-high oil prices and government encouragement, market specialists say.

OIl scene: statesmanship goes beyond mere rhetoric
When OPEC meets, whether the organization loves it or not, the fact remains politics gets involved in big way. Riyadh summit was no exception.

Tehran Times
Front Page

Jalili and Solana to meet on 30 November in London
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana will meet on 30 November in London, SNSC Undersecretary Javad Vaeedi said here on Wednesday.

Kimiaii keen to make film on Takhti
Veteran Iranian filmmaker Masud Kimiaii says that he is interested in making an IRIB-sponsored biopic of the legend of Iranian wrestling, Gholamreza Takhti.

Business

Iran allocates large fund for economic ties with Africa
Iran’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines (ICCIM) head said here on Wednesday that the government has earmarked a remarkable budget for boosting economic ties with African countries.

Japan's surplus up as China, EU fuel record exports
Japan's trade surplus in October rose by two-thirds as exports hit a record on strong shipments to Europe and China despite slack U.S. demand, official figures showed Wednesday.

By: Staff Reporter
+44 20 8652 3214

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