In Friday's Middle East papers

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

OMAN TRIBUNE

Front page

Iran breaks up vigil for protest victims
Baton-wielding Iranian police fired tear gas on Thursday and arrested protesters mourning the young woman killed in post-election violence who has become a symbol for the opposition in Iran.

Second flu death in S Arabia as Iran mulls ban on pilgrimage
Saudi Arabia said on Thursday that an Indonesian woman died from H1N1 flu, the second such death from the disease in the country.

Business

Exxon, Shell post record loss
Royal Dutch Shell and Exxon Mobil, world’s biggest energy companies, posted their largest decline in quarterly profits, due to the sharp decline in oil prices since mid-2008.

Oil bounces above $64 on stock markets, data
Oil rose above $64 a barrel on Thursday, boosted by stock markets in Europe and Asia, better than expected corporate results and data suggesting the economic downturn was bottoming out.

KHALEEJ TIMES

Front page

Obama extends Syria sanctions
US President Barack Obama on Thursday extended sanctions against Syrian or pro-Syrian personalities for provoking instability in neighboring Lebanon, despite some positive recent signs from Damascus, the White House said.

Jackson mother gets custody, Rowe gets visits
Michael Jackson’s mother will get custody of the late pop star’s three children after reaching an agreement with his ex-wife Debbie Rowe, avoiding a custody battle only days before a court hearing on the matter.

Business

Emaar posts Q2 loss on US write-downs
Emaar Properties, the Middle East’s biggest property developer, incurred a net loss of Dh1.29bn in the second quarter due largely to a write-down of the assets of its US subsidiary JL Homes, it said on Thursday.

Shares end on positive note
UAE shares capped the week in positive territory, with investors in Dubai focusing on large caps Emaar Properties and Drake & Scull International, or DSI ahead of their second quarter results.

ARAB NEWS

Front page

Riyadh eyes SR4bn initiative
Saudi Arabia has finalised plans to launch an ambitious public-private partnership initiative to generate SR4bn funds within next four years to support municipal projects.

Israelis want temple rebuilt at Al-Aqsa site
A news survey conducted by the Israeli Ynet news service and the Gesher organisation found that about two thirds of the Israeli public want the Second Temple rebuilt.

Business

No new updates

ALJAZEERA

Front page

Israel defends Gaza war
The Israeli government has said that its war on the Gaza Strip earlier this year, that left up to 1,417 Palestinians dead, was "necessary and proportionate".

Suu Kyi 'preparing for the worst'
Myanmar's detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi "is preparing for the worst" ahead of the verdict in her trial, expected around midday local time on Friday.

Business

No new updates

THE DAILY STAR

Front page

Nasrallah: New cabinet will be one of true partnership
Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Thursday the next government would guarantee true partnership, adding that the formation process had reached the final steps.

Qahwaji orders troops on high alert to face any Israeli threat
The commander of the Lebanese Army, General Jean Qahwaji, ordered the Lebanese Armed Forces on Thursday to stay on high alert in anticipation of any Israeli aggression on Lebanon.

Business

Private sector rejects NSSF proposal to hike subscriptions
A proposal by the National Social Security Fund’s (NSSF) administration to raise the monthly subscriptions on both employers and employees was rejected by the private sector, which bluntly accuses the fund of squandering financial resources and thereby contributing to the huge deficit in the NSSF.

Flu threat to economy mostly in the mind for now
One of the few certainties about the H1N1 swine flu virus is that it would have to turn much deadlier than it seems right now to cause a major drop in global economic output.

GULF DAILY NEWS

Front page

Sri Lanka visit 'a success'
Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa's three-day visit to Sr Lanka has been hailed a success.

Haj certificates...
High-risk groups such as the elderly, pregnant women and those with chronic diseases will not be allowed to go on Haj this year because of the spread of the swine flu virus, say health officials.

Business

Bahrain seeks to boost Sri Lanka trade links
Bahrain and Sri Lanka are to seek out new means of cooperation to boost trade with a global picture in mind.

Jobs data reflects global woes
US and German jobless numbers, while both higher, yesterday offered differing clues about when the recession will end.

By: Staff Reporter
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