In Thursday's Middle East papers

31 July 2008 05:30  [Source: ICIS news]

 

OMAN TRIBUNE

Front Page

US seeking ME deal by year end
The United States will keep working towards President George Bush’s goal of securing an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal before he leaves office, the White House said on Wednesday, despite Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s resignation plans.

$120,000 reward announced for information on bombers
The Gujarat government on Wednesday offered a $120,000 reward for help in arresting those responsible for a string of blasts in Ahmedabad.

Business

ArcelorMittal Q2 net zooms to new highs
World No 1 steelmaker ArcelorMittal reported record second-quarter results, far above expectations.

Central bankers extend liquidity offer to fight credit crisis
The US, European and Swiss central banks on Wednesday extended liquidity offerings to stressed banks and securities firms to ease credit strains that have weighed on the global economy for nearly a year.

KHALEEJ TIMES

Front Page

Israeli PM to resign, won't run in party primary
Facing burgeoning corruption allegations and plummeting popularity, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Wednesday he will resign in September, throwing Israel into political turmoil and raising doubts about prospects for peace with the Palestinians and Syria.

UN council breaks deadlock on Darfur resolution
UN Security Council members broke a deadlock on Wednesday over a resolution to keep peacekeepers in Darfur and acknowledge worries about a possible genocide indictment of Sudan's president, diplomats said.

Business

Inflation up 20%: Samba
Inflation in Dubai and Abu Dhabi probably accelerated to 20% last year, almost double official figures that failed to account for the spending of foreign residents, Samba Financial Group said yesterday.

Opening of The Dubai Mall postponed to October 30
The opening of The Dubai Mall has been postponed to October 30 from August 28 as some retail and leisure attractions are still being finalised in the 12-million-sq-ft shoppers' paradise, an integral part of the Downtown Burj Dubai development by Emaar Properties.

ARAB TIMES

Front Page

Teargas, batons break up demonstrations
Riot policemen wielding batons on Monday broke up a demonstration, in which they also used teargas, as the unrest of Bangladeshi cleaners Monday spread to other camps in Mabhoula and Jleeb Al-Shuoukh.

‘Kuwait rated highly for religious freedom’
A prominent lawyer says that Kuwait is rated highly among its GCC peers in terms of religious freedom, as the country’s Constitution recognizes many religions. “This is reflected in the fact that we had Kuwaiti Jews.

Business

Global announces record H1 profit of KD 82m
Global Investment House “Global” announced today its financial results for the first-half ended 30 June 2008.

KAMCO H1 profit jumps almost 23% to KD 10.5m
KIPCO Asset Management Company (KAMCO), a leading Kuwaiti asset management and financial services company, has continued its growth spurt by demonstrating strong financial half yearly

ARAB NEWS

Front Page

Vice cops enforce ban on cats and dogs
The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice began enforcing a ban on the sale and escorting of cats and dogs in public places in Riyadh yesterday, a local newspaper reported.

Kingdom’s inflation expected to ease in 2009
Saudi Arabia’s inflation fell slightly in May but is likely to average 11-12% this year and is expected to ease to around 10% in 2009.

Business

New YCC plant to produce 3m tonne clinker annually
Yanbu Cement Company (YCC) signed a contract with Sinoma International Engineering of China for setting up a new cement plant at a ceremony at the YCC headquarters here yesterday.

Kingdom’s inflation expected to ease in 2009
Saudi Arabia’s inflation fell slightly in May but is likely to average 11-12% this year and is expected to ease to around 10% in 2009.

TEHRAN TIMES

No news update

ALJAZEERA                                                          

Front Page

Israeli prime minister to resign
Ehud Olmert, Israel's prime minister, has said he will not stand for the leadership of his Kadima party in an election scheduled for September.

Palestinians want all or nothing
Ahmed Qureia, the chief Palestinian negotiator to three-way talks with Israel and the US, has told Al Jazeera that agreement must be reached on all issues under negotiation "or there will be no agreement".

Business

Housing crisis batters US economy
The US treasury secretary has said that the US economy faces further uncertainty unless its housing crisis eases.

Farm row stalls WTO talks
Talks on a deal to liberalise world trade appear on the brink of collapse after more than a week of often tense meetings as the US blamed China and India for holding up a deal.

THE DAILY STAR

Front Page

Hariri sees parallels between challenges in Lebanon and Iraq
Parliamentary majority leader MP Saad Hariri said on Tuesday that Lebanon and Iraq suffered "from almost the same problems" and faced similar challenges.

Hizbullah calls on UN to halt Israel's violations of airspace
Hizbullah on Tuesday called on the international community to take steps to halt Israel's recurring violations of Lebanese skies, calling the incursions "provocative, unacceptable and condemned.

Business

Banque du Liban uneasy about booming real estate market
The American housing market today is in shambles, with July seeing the lowest number of houses sold of any month in nearly a decade.

Oil falls below $121, hitting lowest price since May
Oil fell more than $4/bbl to below $121 on Tuesday, touching the lowest price since May, as signs of weakening demand outweighed a disruption to Nigerian oil output.

GULF DAILY NEWS

No news update

By: Staff Reporter
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