In Friday's Middle East papers

12 June 2009 05:00  [Source: ICIS news]

OMAN TRIBUNE

Front page

Swine flu pandemic: WHO
The World Health Organisation declared an influenza pandemic on Thursday and called on governments to prepare for a long-term battle against an unstoppable flu virus.

US may lift Syria sanctions: Carter
Former US president Jimmy Carter said on Thursday he believed the new US administration of President Barack Obama could lift sanctions on Syria and upgrade ties by sending an ambassador to Damascus.

Business

Oil rallies above $72 on hopes of rising demand
Oil prices extended a three-day rally to a nearly eight-month high over $72 a barrel on Thursday on rising hopes the economic recession had bottomed out, spelling a recovery in ailing world energy demand.

Chinese exports dive 26.4% amid robust investment
China’s exports plummeted for a seventh straight month in May, data showed on Thursday, as the world’s third biggest economy continued to feel the strain of the global economic slump.

KHALEEJ TIMES

Front page

Iranians begin voting in key presidential election
Iranians have begun voting in a key presidential election pitting hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad against a pro-reform challenger more open to improving ties with the US.

North Korea, Iran joined on missile work: US
Iran and North Korea are working together to develop ballistic missiles and have made significant progress, the head of the Pentagon’s Missile Defence Agency said on Thursday.

Business

Reduced trade may halve DP World profits
Lower trade volumes will squeeze revenues and earnings for DP World, with the port operator’s net profit likely to plunge by 54% to $265m  this year from $572m in 2008, Kuwait Financial Centre, or Markaz, said on Thursday.

Mideast’s economy to grow 1% in 2009
The Middle East and Africa region is expected to grow at a modest 1% in 2009 and a more robust 4.4% in 2010, according to Mohammed Shakeel, economist and editor at the Economist Intelligence Unit in London.

ARAB TIMES

No new updates

ARAB NEWS

Front page

Haj Ministry heightens swine flu watch
Undersecretary at the Ministry of Haj Ali Balkhayr has said his ministry is carefully watching outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as swine flu, in various parts of the world.

WHO declares swine flu pandemic
The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the first flu pandemic of the 21st century yesterday, urging countries to shore up defenses against the virus which is "not stoppable" but has proved mainly mild so far.

Business

Three-day JTF to focus on projects worth SR10.3 trillion
Mobilisation of funds worth SR10.3 trillion to finance new infrastructure and welfare projects will be the focus of the first Jeddah Trade Forum (JTF), which will be opened by Makkah Gov Prince Khaled Al-Faisal on Monday.

Fair price issue continues to haunt Obama even after Riyadh visit
When Barack Hussain Obama, the president of the world’s largest gas guzzler, landed in Riyadh, the world’s largest gas station, last week, it would have really been naïve to expect that the continuing global oil saga-with prices firming up to the highest points in the year-would not be on his mind.

TEHRAN TIMES

No new updates

ALJAZEERA

Front page

Iran braced for presidential vote
Iranians are set to vote in the most tightly contested presidential elections the Islamic republic has seen for years.

Afghan violence 'worst since 2001'
Violence in Afghanistan has spiked to its highest levels since the fall of the Taliban in 2001, the general in charge of US forces in the Middle East and Central Asia says.

Business

No new updates

THE DAILY STAR

Front page

Sfeir: Poll result averted takeover by Iran, Syria
Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir said in comments to be published Friday that had the opposition won the 7 June parliamentary polls, "Syria and Iran would have taken control of our country."

US envoy meets Sleiman as part of Mideast peace push
US envoy George Mitchell arrived in Beirut on Thursday, just days after Lebanon's pivotal parliamentary elections, for meetings with President Michel Sleiman and other high ranking officials.

Business

Lebanese expats who came to vote are boosting tourism sector, says minister
Tourism Minister Elie Marouni said on Thursday the bulk of the Lebanese who arrived in Lebanon in May and the first week of June came to take part in the parliamentary elections which saw 14 March retain the majority in the Parliament.

IMF revises 2010 growth forcasts upward as Chinese investments fuel recovery hopes
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised its 2010 growth forecast sharply upward, a source said on Thursday, and surging Chinese investment in May fueled hopes of a global recovery.

GULF DAILY NEWS

Front page

SOS: Labour fees killing us!
Scores of employers from across Bahrain sent out an SOS to the government yesterday, saying they are being driven to the wall by "crippling" labour fees.

Funds for Gaza ICU
Parliament has donated $200,000 (BD75,670) to equip an intensive care unit at the Gaza-based Bahrain Health Centre.

Business

Group scales back unit operations
Ahmad Hamad Al Gosaibi & Brothers Co (AHAG) yesterday announced that it was aware of substantial financial irregularities within its financial services arm.

Bourse halts Al Salam stake sale
The Bahrain Stock Exchange (BSE) has halted Kuwait-based Global Investment House's sale of a 14% stake in Al Salam Bank due to a dispute with an investor.

By: Staff Reporter
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