In Wednesday's Middle East papers

04 November 2009 05:00  [Source: ICIS news]

OMAN TRIBUNE

Front page

Big growth plans set for farm sector
The Symposium on Agricultural Development came out with a number of recommendations that were blessed and approved by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said.

Palestinians cynical of peace talks’ relaunch
Palestinians on Tuesday remained pessimistic about the likelihood of re-launching peace talks with Israel despite US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s attempt to clarify earlier remarks about settlements.

Business

Sensex tanks 3.1% to close at two-month low
The BSE Sensex dropped 3.1% on Tuesday, a sixth straight fall that took it to its lowest close in two months.

UK banks secure additional $50.5bn government aid
Britain’s two largest retail banks secured another £31bn ($50.5bn) from the government on Tuesday.

KHALEEJ TIMES

Front page

Banks will clear cheques on day from 14 Nov
Banks in the UAE will begin 14 November onwards clearing cheques on the same day that their customers deposit them, the Central Bank said on Tuesday.

Sharjah to launch e-card system for public buses
Passengers of Sharjah public buses will enjoy an electronic payment system with discount offers within two months.

Business

Amlak, Tamweel merger to begin in Jan
A planned merger between Islamic mortgage lenders Amlak Finance and Taweel will begin in January, the Minister of Economy Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri said on Tuesday.

Abu Dhabi to post 4-6% growth
The Oil-rich, Abu Dhabi is projecting to register a single-digit economic growth rate ranging between 4-6% during the year, while expecting year 2010 to be ‘positive’, said Mohammed Nasser Al Sowaidi, the chairman of Department of Economic Development, Abu Dhabi.

ARAB NEWS

Front page

Parents’ consent a must for H1N1 shots
The Ministry of Health must obtain permission from parents or guardians before swine flu vaccinations are given to their children in schools. 

King meets British minister
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah on Tuesday held a meeting with British Defense Secretary Bob Ainsworth and discussed the process of peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Business

Dubai leads selling spree on most Gulf markets
Investors were in a selling mood on most Gulf Arab markets on Tuesday, as the previous day’s gains were mostly cancelled out.
Qatar predicts strong economic growth in 2010
Qatar’s economic growth should accelerate strongly in the next fiscal year, the Gulf country’s emir said on Tuesday, while consumer prices continue to decline this year.

ALJAZEERA

Front page

US House rejects Goldstone report
Non-binding resolution criticises commission that accuses Israel of war crimes in Gaza.

US ‘committed to settlement freeze’
Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, has said that Washington remains committed to complete freeze in Israeli settlement construction in the occupied West Bank.

Business

UK-Chinese firms sign Iraq oil deal
Move marks Baghdad’s first major, post-invasion energy contract. 

British banks set for sell-offs
State-rescued RBS and Lloyds to get $49bn injection as branches are sold and bonuses cut.

THE DAILY STAR

Front page

Aoun rejects five-portfolio pitch, douses cabinet hopes
Optimism over the imminent formation of a new government was dashed on Tuesday by Michel Aoun’s latest refusal of an offer for five seats in the next cabinet, including the Telecommunications and Energy Ministries.

Lebanese power firm calls for electricity upgrade
A Lebanese electrical company has called on minsters to implement plans that could revolutionise the country’s beleaguered energy industry.

Business

Beirut bourse activity down 45% to $882m
Figures released by the Beirut Stock Exchange indicate that total trading volume reached 94.9m shares in the first 10 months of 2009, a decrease of 3.2% year-on-year.

Nokia Siemens considers up to 6,000 job cuts
Finnish-German telecom equipment maker Nokia Siemens said on Tuesday that it could reduce its 64,000-strong workforce by 7-9%, or by 4,500 to 5,800 jobs, in a cost-cutting drive.

GULF DAILY NEWS

Front page

Caring nation
The future of thousands of Bahrain's orphans and widows were made more secure yesterday.

President re-elected
Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan was re-elected UAE President for a second five-year term yesterday, the official news agency Wam announced.

Business

BFX training for finance professionals
The Bahrain Financial Exchange (BFX) held a complimentary financial markets training course at the BFX training Institute for key financial organisations in Bahrain.

Firm to sponsor property forum
Real Estate Finance Company (Reef) will sponsor a top real estate conference.

By: Staff Reporter
+44 20 8652 3214

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly