In Friday's Middle East papers

18 July 2008 04:30  [Source: ICIS news]

OMAN TRIBUNE  

Front page

 

No compromise on nuclear deal, says Sonia

The India-US nuclear deal was in the interest of the nation and the government would not compromise on it, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi said on Thursday in her first public remarks after the Left parties withdrew support to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

 

US presence at N-talks positive: Iran

Iran’s foreign minister said on Thursday US participation in nuclear talks was “positive”, but France said big powers still wanted Teheran to make specific proposals to resolve a dispute over Iran’s nuclear work.

 

Business & Industry

 

IMF lifts outlook, but says economy in ‘tough spot’

The IMF on Thursday slightly raised its growth forecasts for the world including the United States but said the global economy remains in a "tough spot" due to rising inflation amid a slowdown.

 

Global markets stage fightback

Asian and European equities rebounded on Thursday, mirroring Wall Street gains, as investors welcomed a dramatic drop in oil prices ahead of crucial banking results in the United States.

 

KHALEEJ TIMES

Front page

Al Qaeda draws more foreign recruits to Afghan war

Afghanistan has been drawing a fresh influx of jihadi fighters from Turkey, Central Asia, Chechnya and the Middle East, one more sign that Al Qaeda is regrouping on what is fast becoming the most active front of the war on terror groups.

 

SKorea to raise N Korea shooting at security forum

South Korea plans to raise North Korea's killing of a Seoul tourist at a high-level regional security meeting next week, a foreign ministry official said Friday.

 

Business & Industry

 

Emaar H1 net income surges to Dh3.31b

Domestic property sales drove Emaar Properties' net income for the first-half of the year that reached Dh3.315 billion compared to Dh3.279 a year ago, with earnings per share of Dh0.54. Its second-quarter profit rose by seven per cent from Dh1.558 between April and June last year.

 

ADCB's net profit touches Dh655m

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) yesterday reported Dh655.4 million net profit for the second quarter reflecting an increase of 29.5 per cent over Dh506.2 million earned during the same period last year.

 

ARAB TIMES

Front page

 

Gulf’s environment hit by ‘regional wars’ – experts

Two environment experts say wars that have occurred in the Gulf region over the past three decades have had a negative impact on the environment and people’s health.

 

Business & Industry

 

Oil exports keep surplus elevated at 42% of GDP

In its latest economic brief on the macroeconomic indicators in Kuwait, NBK reports that last year was another record year for Kuwait’s balance of payments (BOP) as oil prices reached new highs resulting in record oil export receipts.

 

Kuwait in ‘advanced talks’ to import gas from Iran

Kuwait is in advanced talks with Iran to import gas to help meet spiralling domestic demand, a Kuwaiti newspaper said on Wednesday. Kuwait’s Oil Minister Mohammad Al-Olaim held talks with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Alireza Sheikh-Attar on Monday to discuss gas import prices, Al-Rai reported in an unsourced report.

 

ARAB NEWS

Front page

 

Madrid dialogue shows unity: Ban

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has described the World Conference on Dialogue in Madrid as a symbol of unity among different faiths, adding that he hopes it will contribute to healing divisions and building a more secure and stable world.

 

Business & Industry

 

Of ‘myth’ of a shortage and Saudi capacity

Crude demand-supply balance is definitely tight, no one argues. The spare cushion has perilously gone down to two percent from six percent a few years back. Galloping consumption in the emerging economies of Asia coupled with rising demand within the Arab Gulf has contributed to tight markets.

 

TEHRAN TIMES

Front page

 

No new updates

 

ALJAZEERA

Front page

 

Court vows to try Darfur rebels

Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), has said he is committed to prosecuting Darfuri rebels accused of killing 10 African Union troops last year.

Business & Industry

 

Qantas cuts jobs as oil price bites

Australian airline Qantas has said it will cut 1,500 jobs, or about 4 per cent of its workforce, and scrap its growth plan for the coming year as a result of soaring fuel prices

 

THE DAILY STAR

Front page

 

Nation unites for heroes' homecomings

Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader Walid Jumblatt said on Thursday that only Lebanese national unity can protect the resistance, in reference to Hizbullah."Arms cannot protect arms ... only national unity can protect the resistance," he said, indirectly responding to Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who justified Hizbullah's use of arms against other Lebanese factions in early May as "using arms to defend the arms of the resistance."

 

UN border assessment team begins second visit to Lebanon

The Lebanon Independent Border Assessment Team (LIBAT), dispatched by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, began its second mission to Lebanon on Thursday, according to a statement issued by the UN Information Center. The team will conduct a broad review of Lebanon's ongoing efforts to enhance its border management capacity following the recommendations of LIBAT's first visit in 2007

 

Business & Industry

 

Investors watching political scene before investing in Lebanon - IDAL president

Investors are adopting a wait-and-see approach before making a final commitment in Lebanon despite the relatively relaxed political atmosphere in the country, the head of the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL) said on Thursday.

 

IFC invests in Lebanese firm to enable expansion

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private arm of the World Bank, acquired Thursday a minority share in a leading Lebanese construction company. According to a statement, The IFC invested $15 million in Butee Group to enable the Lebanese firm to expand its operations in the Middle East and North Africa.

 

GULF DAILY NEWS

Front page

 

Work accidents spur safety call

Twenty people have been badly injured in worksite accidents in just two weeks. They were admitted to Salmaniya Medical Complex, sparking a call from a top doctor for employers and workers to tighten safety measures.

 

Business & Industry

 

Rush to snap up iraq deals

Investors are flooding Iraq's new government investment agency with proposals worth tens of billions of dollars, the agency's head said, as violence has dropped in recent months to a four-year low.

 

Petrobras standoff continues

Oil workers at Brazil's state-run energy company will remain on strike for two more days after failing to reach agreement in talks with Petrobras, a union spokesman said

By: Staff Reporter
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