In Friday's Middle East papers

21 November 2008 05:00  [Source: ICIS news]

OMAN TRIBUNE

Front page

RO150m fund to boost MSM
The Sultanate has decided to establish a fund with an initial capital of RO150m, 60% of which will be owned by the government, in a bid to maintain the balance on the Muscat Securities Market (MSM), according to HE Maqbool Bin Ali Bin Sultan, Minister of Commerce and Industry.

Settlers desecrate mosque, graves in Hebron
Jewish settlers angry at an Israeli court order for their eviction from a house in Hebron desecrated a mosque and tombs in the Occupied West Bank City of Hebron before dawn on Thursday, witnesses said.

Business

Global markets battered on fresh wave of job cuts
Global stock markets tumbled on Thursday, with Tokyo losing nearly 7% and European indices deep in the red after sharp overnight losses on Wall Street and amid a fresh wave of major job cuts.

US seeks $300bn from Gulf states
The United States has asked four Gulf states for close to $300bn to help it curb the global financial meltdown, Kuwait’s daily Al Seyassah reported on Thursday.

KHALEEJ TIMES

Front page

Stars, fireworks dazzle at Atlantis launch
Engineered to perfection, the launch of Atlantis The Palm and the man-made islands of Palm Jumeirah did not fall short of expectations on Thursday night, when Dubai and the Kerzners showed the world how to party amid a global financial meltdown.

UN council targets trouble-makers in Somalia
The UN Security Council voted on Thursday to impose sanctions on anyone contributing to violence and instability in Somalia, in a bid to curb fighting in the chaotic Horn of Africa nation.

Business

NASDAQ Dubai welcomes listing of NASDAQ OMX
In its first secondary listing the world’s largest exchange company, NASDAQ OMX Group, put its shares up for trading on the newly rebranded NASDAQ Dubai on Thursday, signifying the growing links between NASDAQ OMX Group and NASDAQ Dubai, as well as the growth of Dubai as an international financial centre.

US jobless claims hit 16-year high
The number of US workers filing new claims for jobless benefits surged last week to their highest level in 16 years, Labour Department data showed on Thursday, as a harsh economic environment forces employers to cut back on hiring.

ARAB TIMES

Front page

Grilling grips Kuwait; Infighting blamed
National Assembly Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi on Wednesday reiterated that all MPs have the constitutional right to grill erring ministers while fears of a possible suspension of legislative practices still loom in Kuwait.

Large number of counterfeit goods seized by authorities
The campaign against intellectual piracy continues as a large number of counterfeit goods including, apparel, bags, shoes etc were recently seized by the authorities, says Osama Al-Shami, the Head of the Intellectual Property Rights Office (IPRO).

Business

‘CSI: NY’ hits 100th episode 
 “CSI: NY,” the so-called “stepchild” in the venerable crime franchise, hit its milestone 100th episode Wednesday night.

Kuwait revamps repo as Gulf states step up crisis action 
Kuwait’s central bank revamped monetary policy tools on Wednesday by introducing new repurchase agreements as Gulf Arab oil producers stepped up efforts to boost bank liquidity and bolster investor confidence.

ARAB NEWS

Front page

Women social workers speak of field issues
Social workers complain about difficulties they face while touring around residential neighbourhoods in search of families that need help

Abdullah's interfaith initiative
Watching King Abdullah unveil a landmark interfaith initiative at the United Nations this past week, one could not help recall his visit to Vatican last year. 

Business

Energy industry headed for a bigger crisis, it seems
Oil markets are facing a major slump for a number of reasons  and continue to stream further down.

Alwaleed boosts stake in Citigroup
Citigroup Inc won a vote of confidence from Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, its largest individual investor, who said yesterday he plans to boost his stake in the US banking giant to 5% from less than 4%.

TEHRAN TIMES

No new updates

ALJAZEERA

Front page

US 'set to decline by 2025'
Intelligence report says India and China to compete with US at top of multipolar world.

Judge orders Guantanamo releases 
A US judge has ruled that five Algerians held in the US prison facility at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba for almost seven years had been illegally detained and must be freed.

Business

Markets fall further on jobs data
Asian and US stocks dive again on US unemployment figures and car bailout fears.

Iceland offered economic support
Nordic neighbours and IMF promise loans as Iceland struggles amid credit crisis.

THE DAILY STAR

Front page

French PM lauds calm following Doha Accord
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon urged Lebanon on Thursday to press ahead with the process of national reconciliation, saying the Doha Accord had put the country on a "promising path."

Ban reports Israeli, Lebanese violations of 1701
Violations of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 continue to take place and additional progress toward fulfilling obligations is overdue, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in his eighth report on the resolution's implementation.

Business

Salameh predicts higher GDP, lower inflation, stable pound for Lebanon
Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh said on Thursday that he expected higher GDP, lower inflation and a stable local currency in Lebanon in 2008 and 2009.

Lebanon still lags on copyright rules - Microsoft executive
A senior Microsoft executive said on Wednesday that Lebanon and the Middle East need to get firmer in their fight against copy rights violations.

GULF DAILY NEWS

Front page

Get tougher on corrupt!  
A Call for tougher legislation to combat corruption went out from Shura Council members and MPs yesterday. They want to fast-track prosecution of those involved, with penalties that match the severity of the crime.

Jackson to testify in $7m case 
Pop legend Michael Jackson will appear in a British court next week to testify in a $7m (BD2.6m) lawsuit over his alleged breach of contract over a Bahrain recording deal.

Business

$538bn blow for Gulf stocks on credit woes 
The GCC stock markets have lost 47.5% of their value this year wiping off $538bn from the value of regional shares.

BCCI signs Tunisia deal 
Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) yesterday signed a memorandum of cooperation with Tunisia. BCCI chairman Dr Essam Fakhro sealed the deal with his Tunisian counterpart Munir Al Mouakhar.

By: Staff Reporter
+44 20 8652 3214

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