In Friday's Middle East papers

29 August 2008 05:30  [Source: ICIS news]

OMAN TRIBUNE

Front page

Russia wins backing from China, Central Asia
Russia won support on Thursday from China and Central Asian states in its standoff with the West over the Georgia conflict as the European Union said it was weighing sanctions against Moscow.

Omani Day marked at Zaragoza exhibition
Zaragoza HH Sayyid Shihab Bin Tariq Al Said, Adviser to His Majesty the Sultan on Thursday opened the events of the Omani Day at Zaragoza International Exhibition on water and sustainable development in Spain.

Business

US grows at healthy 3.3% annual rate in Q2
The US economy grew at a solid 3.3% annual rate in the second quarter, much stronger than first thought, but many economists expect growth to flag as the year progresses.

Arab economic summit to focus on poverty
The first ever Arab economic summit, to be hosted by Kuwait in January, will focus on worsening poverty and unemployment in the Arab world, and boosting inter-Arab trade, a minister said on Thursday.

KHALEEJ TIMES

Front page

Boats with Palestinians defy Israeli Gaza blockade
Two boatloads of international activists who defied Israel's blockade of Gaza set sail for Cyprus on Thursday, carrying seven Gaza Palestinians who had been confined to the territory.

Gustav kills nearly 70 in Caribbean, aims at US
Tropical Storm Gustav was blamed on Thursday for at least 68 deaths in the Caribbean and US forecasters said it could hit New Orleans and Gulf of Mexico oil fields as a potentially powerful hurricane next week.

Business

DP World profits surge 122%
DP World said on Thursday business was accelerating in the second half, as emerging markets trade mitigated a global economic downturn, after first-half profit more than doubled, boosting shares.

GCC monetary union unlikely by 2010 UAE
With only about two years to go, Gulf Arab oil producers may not be able to meet the target for a monetary union by 2010, and are unlikely to sever their dollar pegs because the US currency is appreciating against other major currencies.

ARAB TIMES

Front page

US Forces to transfer control of Anbar, MPs rule out deal on Iraq debt
Several MPs have dismissed any possibility that the Parliament will approve a proposal to waive off Iraqi debts, but welcomed moves to hold negotiations to settle a number of issues between Iraq and Kuwait, reliable sources told the Arab Times on Wednesday.

Court suspends ministry’s decision to ‘cancel’ licences of nine schools
The Administrative Court suspended the Education Ministry’s decision of cancelling the licences of nine schools and set the case’s hearing on Sept 17, reports Al-Seyassah daily.

Business

Kuwait real estate sales soar led by residential sector
In its latest economic brief on the monthly statistics of registered real estate contracts issued by the Ministry of Justice, excluding sales conducted through agents, National Bank of Kuwait reports that, real estate sales volumes jumped by 50% to 649 in July.

Wataniya leases 3 planes
Wataniya Airways, Kuwait’s new premium airline on Wednesday announced a new leasing agreement for three new Airbus A320 aircraft that will come into service in 2010.

ARAB NEWS

Front page

Sharif rejects Zardari’s reconciliation request
Pakistan Muslim League (N) chief Nawaz Sharif yesterday rejected a request from the head of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to rejoin the coalition he quit on Monday.

Breaking fasts, breaking wallets Ramadan meals will cost more this year
People will have to fork over more cash to break their fasts at special iftar buffets at area hotels this Ramadan.

Business

Kuwait reports $14.2bn Q1 budget surplus
Higher revenue from oil helped Kuwait post a 3.8bn dinars ($14.22bn) preliminary surplus in the first quarter of its 2008/09 fiscal year, government data showed yesterday.

Oil Scene: Russia-Georgia conflict has strong energy connotations
Concerns over Georgia and the possibility that Tropical Storm Gustav could become the first major storm since 2005 to hit the oil installations in the Gulf of Mexico have finally caught up with the markets.

TEHRAN TIMES

Front page

Ahmadinejad lauds Shanghai pact and Iran’s determining role
President Mahmud Ahmadinejad on Sunday called the Shanghai Cooperation Organization a very important regional and international bloc and said Iran plays a determining role in international developments in its interaction with other countries.

Reihani to perform mega pantomime in Mellat Park
Bahram Reihani and a great number of artists are to perform one of the world’s largest pantomimes at Tehran’s Mellat Park.

Business

World poverty ‘more widespread’
The World Bank has warned that world poverty is much greater than previously thought.

State think-tank cuts Swedish growth outlook
Sweden’s economic outlook has worsened and inflation will top the central bank’s target this year and next, Sweden’s National Institute of Economic Research (NIER) said on Wednesday.

ALJAZEERA

Front page

Obama accepts Democratic nomination
Barack Obama has accepted the US Democratic presidential nomination, promising to end what he calls the "broken politics of Washington" if elected president.

US: '100 Taliban killed' in Helmand
US-led coalition and Afghan forces have killed more than 100 Taliban in the southern Afghan province of Helmand during three days of fighting, the US military has said in a statement.

Business

China agrees $3bn Iraq oil deal
Iraq and China have agreed the terms of a $3bn oil service contract, Iraq's oil minister says, announcing the first major oil contract with a foreign firm since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

Vital oil route 'set to reopen'
A vital oil pipeline from the Caspian Sea oilfields, through Georgia, to Turkey's west coast is set to reopen soon, according to Turkey's energy minister.

THE DAILY STAR

Front page

Abbas firmly opposes any plan to resettle Palestinians in Lebanon
Palestinian refugees in Lebanon should not be permanently resettled in the country, and they should abide by their host country's rules, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Thursday after talks in Beirut with Lebanese President Michel Sleiman.

US security officials fear Hizbullah's reach in Venezuela – report
Fears run high that Venezuela could become a base of operations for Hizbullah, the Los Angeles Times reported on Thursday.

Business

Clear answers on Egyptian electricity elude Lebanese
The promised Egyptian electricity and natural gas to Lebanon will surely ease the chronic energy problems in Lebanon.

21 Lebanese firms receive ISO 9001 certification
The Quality Program at the Economy and Trade Ministry, organized a ceremony on Thursday at "Sofitel - Le Gabriel" hotel to honor 21 Lebanese firms that were granted the ISO 9001 certificates for top-quality programs.

GULF DAILY NEWS

Front page

Goodbye to cheap petrol
Bahrain could soon scrap cheap petrol for all, in favour of a system geared to help only the needy.

Father tells of pool tragedy
A four-year-old Bahraini boy drowned during a family trip to a swimming pool because none of the adults who were there could swim, it emerged yesterday.

Business

GPIC unveils strategic future vision project
Gulf Petroleum Industries Company (GPIC) has announced the launch of its future strategic vision project up to the year 2020.

Toyota sales forecast cut as demand slows
Toyota Motor yesterday slashed its 2009 sales forecast due to slowing demand, putting off its goal of becoming the world's first carmaker to sell more than 10m vehicles in a year.

By: Staff Reporter
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