In Wednesday's Middle East papers

OMAN TRIBUNE

Development, heritage preservation gets boost
A three-day symposium on the ‘Archeological heritage in the Sultanate of Oman: Present situation and the future’ began in the capital on Tuesday under the auspices of Sayyid Haitham Bin Tariq Bin Taimour Al Said, the Heritage and Culture Minister.

H1N1 vaccination campaign in Dhofar kicks off
The Directorate General of Health Services in the Governorate of Dhofar on Tuesday launched the vaccination campaign against H1N1 at Salalah Polyclinic, under the auspices of Sheikh Salim Bin Oufait Al Shanfari, head of Dhofar municipality.

Economic data points to end of US recession
Regional economic reports on Monday suggested the US economy has clambered back to levels associated with the end of recession, but recovery will be patchy and may prove fleeting.

Ociped releases report on Libyan market
The Omani Centre for Investment Promotion and Export Development (Ociped) on Tuesday published a detailed report of the Market Study on Libya under the auspices of Undersecretary at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry HE Eng. Ahmed Bin Hassan Al Dheeb, at the Exporting to Libya seminar.

October deadliest month for US in Afghan war
Roadside bombs – the biggest killer of US soldiers – claimed eight more American lives on Tuesday, driving the US death toll to a record level for the third time in four months as President Barack Obama nears a decision on a new strategy for the troubled war.

UAE in vision to nationalise private schools
Education Minister Humaid Mohammed Al Qatami has affirmed that there is a vision to nationalise private schools in the UAE.

DP World says worst is over
DP World said on Tuesday that the decline in number of containers handled at its ports was showing signs of tapering off, after their worst slump in decades due to the global economic downturn, and that the company would be able to match market expectations for its 2009 profits.

Aldar profit drops to Dh1.6bn
Aldar Properties PJSC, a leading property developer of Abu Dhabi, reported net profit of Dh1,569.8m in the first nine months of 2009, from the Dh3,362.2m it achieved in the same period last year.

Al-Yami’s pardon sparks call to review all media-related cases
Following the king’s pardon for a Saudi woman journalist for her role in a controversial television programme about a man’s sexual exploits, the lawyer representing the chief defendant in the case has demanded the Ministry of Culture and Information review its stance on all media-related cases.

GCC urged to support Yemen
Saudi Deputy Interior Minister Prince Ahmed on Tuesday called upon GCC countries to provide all-out support to Yemen – which is facing an armed insurgency from Houtians in the north – in order to strengthen the Arab country’s security and create stability.

Economic disenfranchisement of women under the spotlight
Economic empowerment of women was the subject discussed during the second day of the forum on Women in Leadership held in Dubai.

Saudi demand for luxury cars on the rise
The demand for luxury cars has been increasing in the Kingdom despite the world economic crisis, observed Abdullah Saleh Al-Shamashy executive director of EXCS Exotic Cars Exhibition at the Fours Season Hotel in Riyadh.

Turkey determined to enhance ties with Iran: Erdogan
In a meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad here on Tuesday, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey is determined to enhance its ties with Iran.

Tehran gets a glimpse of "Humanity in War"
Works by world-renowned war photojournalists are on display during "Humanity in War" exhibit at Iran’s National Museum of the Red Crescent.

India to extend duty-free sugar imports on shortage
India, the world’s biggest consumer of sugar, will extend the deadline for duty-free imports of the raw variety by nine months to avoid shortages from worsening, a government official said.

South African economy to shrink 1.9% in 2009, rebound next year
South Africa’s economy will grow 1.5% next year as consumer spending recovers and the government maintains investment on roads, railways and power plants, the National Treasury forecast.

Dawn attack rocks central Kabul
A spokesman for the Taliban in Afghanistan has told Al Jazeera that they are behind an ongoing attack taking place on a United Nations guest house in the heart of the capital, Kabul.

US official resigns over Afghan war
A US official has resigned from his contract post in Afghanistan over the US-led war, becoming the first US political representative to step down in protest at the conflict since it began eight years ago.

No new updates

Hariri promises new cabinet will be good deal for business
Premier-Designate Saad Hariri has said improving conditions for Lebanon’s businesses will be a key focus for the new cabinet he is currently seeking to form.

Cabinet talks to intensify as Berri offers options
Contacts are expected to intensify in the next 48 hours to speed up government formation, which has been stalled for the past five months.

MEA’s profits in 2009 to exceed $100m as company plans new routes
Middle East Airlines (MEA) chairman on Tuesday gave an upbeat picture of the national carrier as the airline heads for a net profit of more than $100m in 2009, the highest in the company’s history.

Salameh vows to continue protecting banking sector
Lebanon’s central bank Governor Riad Salameh said on Tuesday that the country’s banking sector was stronger than at any time before, and promised to pursue the policies that have protected this sector from collapsing.

Terror suspect’s relatives detained over protests
Relatives of a Bahraini terror suspect detained in Saudi Arabia for over six years were yesterday briefly taken into police custody after protesting outside the Saudi Embassy, despite repeated warnings.

Sponsorship boost for golf tournament
DHL Express has been named a gold sponsor of the 2009 Island Classic Charity golf tournament, which will be held next week under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad at his private golf course in Safriya.

UGB signs stock exchange deal
United Gulf Bank (UGB) has signed an agreement with the Bahrain Stock Exchange (BSE) to sponsor an electronic display board showing stock prices at the new trading floor in its premises at the Bahrain Financial Harbour.

New creative director for Gulf Marcom
Gulf Marcom has appointed Steven Allen as creative director.