In Wednesday's Middle East papers

01 July 2009 05:00  [Source: ICIS news]

OMAN TRIBUNE

Front page

RO87m deals signed for developing ports, aviation
The government on Tuesday signed 22 development agreements worth RO87m covering the port and civil aviation sectors.

Yemeni plane crashes with 153 on board
An Airbus A310-300 from Yemen with 153 people on board, including 66 French nationals, crashed into the sea off the Indian Ocean archipelago of Comoros as it approached in bad weather early on Tuesday, officials said.

Business

BP, CNPC win auction for Iraq’s Rumaila field
A BP-led group won a deal to develop Iraq’s biggest oilfield but had to slash its fee as Baghdad’s tough terms put off other investors in the country’s first major energy auction since 2003.

British economy contracts fastest since 1958
The recession-battered British economy shrank at its fastest pace in more than 50 years in the first quarter of 2009, revised official data showed on Tuesday, amid the worst global slowdown in decades.

KHALEEJ TIMES

Front page

US pullback in Iraq ‘important milestone’: Obama
President Barack Obama hailed the withdrawal of US troops from Iraqi towns and cities as an ‘important milestone,’ but warned of difficult days of bloodshed and violence to come.

Israeli minister, US envoy in ‘constructive’ talks
US envoy George Mitchell and Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak held a ‘constructive’ meeting on Tuesday on the ailing Middle Peace process, the pair said afterwards in a joint statement.

Business

Emirates NBD gets Dh4b cash infusion
In a last-minute solution to a big funding shortfall, Emirates NBD, the nation’s largest banking group by assets, met a UAE Central Bank deadline requiring local banks to strengthen their capital bases to cushion against increasing loan defaults.

IRENA expected to attract investments in green energy
The decision to base the International Renewable Energy Agency, or IRENA, in Abu Dhabi should make the nation’s capital a magnet for businesses involved in research and development and in related investments, business leaders and executives said on Tuesday.

ARAB NEWS

Front page

Elderly asked to skip Haj
A workshop on precautionary health measures during Haj and Umrah yesterday recommended that the old, the infirm, pregnant women and children not perform Haj and Umrah this year in view of the global swine flu pandemic.

Tripartite summit in Egypt
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah held talks here yesterday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the prospects of establishing a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East that would ensure the formation of an independent Palestinian state.

Business

Saudi Post trying to win over customers
The credibility of Saudi Post has been at stake over the years due to poor services and bureaucracy.

Gulf bourses edge higher
Most Gulf Arab markets rose yesterday as regional investors sought to boost the value of their portfolios on the final day of the second quarter, with rising oil prices and gains in world equities also providing support.

TEHRAN TIMES

Front page

Elamite jar burial transferred to Haft-Tappeh Museum
Iran’s most intact jar burial, which dates back to the Elamite era, was transferred to the Haft-Tappeh Museum last week.

Ban Ki-moon issues dire warning for Afghanistan
Afghanistan could witness unprecedented levels of violence as US and international forces push further into the country, the UN secretary-general warns.

Business

Turkish economy shrank 13.8% in Q1
Turkey's economy shrank by a painful 13.8% in the first quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago as foreign trade contracted sharply amid the global recession, the Turkish Statistics Institute announced on Tuesday.

Saudi economy to shrink 1.2% in 2009: bank
The Saudi economy is forecast to shrink by 1.2% in 2009, despite a stronger market for oil and expanded government investment, Riyadh-based Samba Bank said on Monday.

ALJAZEERA

Front page

UN assembly condemns Honduras coup
The United Nations General Assembly has condemned the military coup that forced Honduras' elected president from power.

China delays web filter plan
China has indefinitely postponed a controversial plan requiring all computers sold in the country to have specially designed internet filtering software installed.

Business

No new updates

THE DAILY STAR

Front page

Petraeus commends Lebanon’s improvement since last visit
Visiting United States Central Command head General David Petraeus said on Monday he hoped for a swift formation of a new Cabinet in Lebanon and underlined "significant improvement" on the Lebanese domestic front since his visit last year.

Hariri holding ‘positive’ talks with Parliament blocs on cabinet
Prime Minister-designate MP Saad Hariri said on Tuesday that the consultations with parliamentary blocs on Monday to form a national-unity Cabinet were "positive," adding that the upcoming phase will focus on the government’s make-up and the distribution of ministerial portfolios.

Business

No new updates

GULF DAILY NEWS

Front page

Free them!
Five Bahrainis, including three women, were among 21 people seized by the Israeli Navy, as they tried to break the Gaza blockade aboard a mercy vessel carrying aid for the Palestinians yesterday.

Girl cheats death in plane disaster
A 14-year-old girl who survived a Yemenia jet crash yesterday, is being treated in a hospital in the Comoros.

Business

Asry honours Iraq members
Asry honoured Salah Aziz Karim and Nabeel Abdul Ghafoor Ahmed for completing their tenure as Iraq representatives on the company’s board.

Saudi to relaunch refinery bidding
Saudi Aramco and US ConocoPhillips yesterday said they would relaunch bidding for the 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) Yanbu refinery.

By: Staff Reporter
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