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Eight candidates for Iranian presidential race

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:00:52 -0400

TEHRAN - Iran has approved eight candidates for the presidential election due next month, rejecting President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's top aide in a major setback to the hawkish leader of the Islamic republic. Ahmadinejad criticised the decision to remove Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei from the final candidate list and said it was an act of "oppression". He announced plans to take up the case with ...

Construction begins on new island off Jumeirah Beach in Dubai

Mon, 20 May 2013 04:26:18 -0400

Work began on Monday on the development of a man-made island in Dubai, 500 metres directly opposite the Jumeirah Beach Residence complex. To be known as Bluewaters Island, the new development will house five star hotels and resorts, al fresco dining and entertainment zones, and residential apartments and villas. The focal point of the island city, which will cost $1.6 billion, will be a 688 ...

Afghanistans Helmand Province Sees Fresh Clashes Conflicting Claims

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:15:19 -0400

Fighting between Taliban militants and Afghan government forces has erupted in a highly-volatile corner of Helmand province. Afghan officials claimed victory Wednesday in southern Helmand province, saying they turned back a series of attacks by Taliban militants in Sangin. A spokesman for the provincial governor estimated the number of attackers at close to 1,000, including Arabs and ...

UAE leaders hold talks with foreign officials

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:50:01 -0400

Leaders of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have met senior officials of the US, the Czech Republic and Kenya and held talks on enhancing ties. Lt. Gen. Obaid Mohammed Al Ka'abi, undersecretary of the UAE ministry of defence, met US Assistant Secretary of Defense (Logistics amp; Material Readiness) Alan F. Estevez. Ras Al Khaimah ruler Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi met visiting First Deputy ...

Gunmen kill 12 Iraqis in attack on brothel

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:30:01 -0400

At least 12 people, including seven women and five men, were killed Wednesday in an attack by unidentified gunmen on a brothel in Baghdad, an interior ministry source told Xinhua. The armed men broke into the brothel in Zayouna district and opened fire, leaving 12 people dead and two injured, the source said on condition of anonymity. The attackers managed to flee, the source ...

Bahrains Royal Endurance Team is supporting a 120km Endurance Horse Ride

Thu, 23 May 2013 08:39:26 -0400

Manama, May 23 (BNA) -- Bahrain's Royal Endurance Team is supporting a 120km Endurance Horse Ride, part of the Compiegne Festival Mondial d'Endurance, to be held on Sunday at Compiegne near Paris, in France. Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa will lead a group of prominent Bahraini riders in this two-day festival, which also includes a 160km ride, set to take place ...

GCC Health Ministers Approve Kuwait Declaration on Fighting Chronic Diseases

Thu, 23 May 2013 08:39:25 -0400

Kuwait , May 23 (BNA) - Kuwaiti Minister of Health Mohammad Barrak Al-Haifi has announced that the GCC health ministers have approved the Kuwaiti declaration on fighting non-contagious chronic diseases, as an action plan for the cooperation council for the arab states of the Gulf (GCC) member states . The approval was made on the sidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO) annual meeting ...

Welcome back Tamer The Arabian Knight is rockin Dubai this weekend

Thu, 23 May 2013 08:38:18 -0400

in the U.S. expanding his career and family , but the region can finally welcome back their favorite Egyptian songster. After livening up a Gala dinner event in Doha last weekend, Tamer Hosny is ready to bring it this weekend in Dubai. While we are totes excited for the soon release of ...

Egypt to sink some $700 million to easy electricity shortages

Thu, 23 May 2013 08:38:13 -0400

The Egyptian government said on Wednesday it would supply more gas and diesel to power stations to deal with electricity shortages that have worsened in recent months after the cash-strapped country failed to import enough ...

U.S. Israel raise hopes for Mideast peace restart

Thu, 23 May 2013 08:35:01 -0400

View Photo Associated Press/Jim Young, Pool - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, left, meets with Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem Thursday, May 23, 2013. The United States and Israel are ...

US Secretary of State John Kerry in Middle East for separate talks with Israel and Palestine

Thu, 23 May 2013 08:34:10 -0400

US Secretary of State John Kerry held separate talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials on Thursday and acknowledged there was considerable scepticism that the two sides would resume peace ...

Arab Unrest by Mr. Sarfaraz Ahmed

Thu, 23 May 2013 08:31:06 -0400

Published on March 19, 2013 A state of extreme confusion, agitation, commotion and tumult in Egypt is giving birth to some legitimate fears about its direction after Mubarak. Are the present events in Egypt a step forward for its people? Is Egypt heading for a rigid winter after an Arab Spring?-Arab unrest: perspectives-XLVII (Business Recorder, November 28, ...

Saudi Arabia confirms another death from SARS-like virus

Thu, 23 May 2013 08:24:17 -0400

DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has announced another death from the SARS-like novel coronavirus (nCoV) in its central al-Qassim region, bringing the total number of deaths in the kingdom to ...

Huaweis Middle East revenue rose 18 percent in 2012 executive

Thu, 23 May 2013 08:19:31 -0400

By Matt SmithDUBAI (Reuters) - China's Huawei Technologies Co's Middle East revenue rose 18 percent to $2.08 billion in 2012 and the roll-out of 4G mobile networks and IT outsourcing will be among its main regional growth drivers, the firm said.The world's second-largest telecom equipment maker also expects Middle East telecom operators to prioritize improving network efficiency, ...

Paid for the risk Egypts tempting pound

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:53:02 -0400

Surprising as it may seem, the Egyptian pound has got some fans. The currency has languished for months at record lows against the dollar and the headlines arealarming the lack of an IMF aid programme, meagre hard currency reserves, political upheaval. So what's to like ? Analysts at Societe Generale say thatjust looking at the spot exchangerate of the pound is missing the bigger picture. ...

Exact date of beginning of Ramadan month in Azerbaijan made public

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:37:52 -0400

The exact date of the beginning of Ramadan month in Azerbaijan has been made public. Deputy director of the Shamakhi-based Tusi Astrophysical Observatory of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) Khidir Mikayilov ...

Israel seeking to revive peace talks with Palestinians Netanyahu

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:33:11 -0400

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry Thursday that his country is seeking to revive peace talks with the Palestinians.At the beginning of a meeting with Kerry, Netanyahu said "above all, we want to restart the peace talks with the Palestinians."Kerry arrived in Israel on Thursday as part of the ongoing efforts exerted by the US ...

Former Israeli PM offered major concession to Palestinians in 2008

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:33:10 -0400

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert offered far-reaching territorial concessions to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in 2008 as part of a future peace deal, Israeli news website Walla reported Thursday.According to the report, in a meeting between Olmert and Abbas held on Sept. 16, 2008 in Jerusalem, the former drew a map of the borders of the future Palestinian state along the Israeli ...

Iran holds US Britain responsible for killings in Syria deputy

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:33:09 -0400

An Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister said the United States and Britain are responsible for the killings in Syria, Press TV reported Thursday."The United States and Britain have made numerous strategic mistakes in the region, including in Syria, and are considered responsible for the killing of the Syrian people," Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs, Hossein ...

7 killed 40 injured in clashes in Lebanons Tripoli

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:33:07 -0400

At least seven people were killed and 40 others injured in overnight clashes in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli, local security official told Xinhua Thursday.On Wednesday, gunfire between the rival neighborhoods of Alawite Jabal Mohsen backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and Sunni Bab al-Tabbaneh, the opponents of the Syrian administration, broke out in Tripoli, bringing the total ...

Egypt manages through the bottleneck 2nd currency auction succeeds

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:28:02 -0400

It did not say how much currency it actually sold Egypt's central bank kept the price of the country's currency steady against the dollar at a special $800 million foreign exchange auction on Wednesday, called to help importers pay for wheat, meat, cooking oil and other essential imports.It did not say how much currency it actually sold.Egypt has used up its foreign currency reserves, ...

Another $150 million loan to Jordan from World Bank

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:28:00 -0400

Jordanin Police keep guard as Syrian refugees look on at the King Abdullah Refugee Camp for Syrian refugees 2 kilometers from the Syrian border (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) The World Bank has proposed a $150 million loan for Jordan to help it with the cost of thousands of Syrian refugees fleeing the civil war in Syria, Jordanian and World Bank board sources said on Wednesday."The ...

Digital technology poised to reshape Middle East business

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:12:03 -0400

Middle East business will be transformed by digital technologies and companies not investing in that transformation face an existential competitive threat. That’s the message leading industry figures will be bringing to ArabNet ...

Arab Parliament warns of escalation of events in Syria

Thu, 23 May 2013 06:59:49 -0400

WAM CAIRO, May 23rd, 2013 -- The Arab Parliament has warned of a dangerous escalation of events in Syria amid the intervention of third parties directly and indirectly in the pro-Syrian regime. Ahmad bin Mohammed Al-Jarwan, Speaker of the Arab Parliament, condemned the continuation of violence, murder and heinous crimes committed against Syrian civilians, the use of heavy weapons on the ground ...

Kuwait crude oil exports to S. Korea up 14.4 percent

Thu, 23 May 2013 06:59:48 -0400

WAM ABU DHABI, May 23rd, 2013 (WAM): Kuwait's crude oil exports to South Korea in April grew 14.4% from a year earlier to 11.08 million barrels, or 369,000 barrels per day (bpd), according to latest data released by the state-run Korea National Oil Corporation. As South Korea's number-two supplier, Kuwait provided 16.0% of the Asian nation's total crude oil imports in April, ...

Barred from election Rafsanjani lambasts Iranian authorities report

Thu, 23 May 2013 06:20:22 -0400

In this picture taken on Saturday, May 11, 2013, former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani waves to media as he registers his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election at the election headquarters of the interior ministry in Tehran, Iran. (AP Photo/Ebrahim ...

Media watchdog criticises UAE over tweeters jail term

Thu, 23 May 2013 06:20:21 -0400

United Arab Emirates this month on similar charges.RSF "expresses outrage at the Abu Dhabi appeals court confirmation of the 10-month prison sentence of netizen Abdullah al-Hadidi," it said in a statement issued on Wednesday.Hadidi is the son of one of 94 Islamists being tried in the Gulf state's top court over an alleged plot to seize power.A court jailed him for posting details ...

Israel government divided on peace issue Livni

Thu, 23 May 2013 06:20:19 -0400

Head of Israel's parliamentary opposition Tzipi Livni attends a news conference at the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011. (AP Photo/Sebastian ...

Bahrain banks announce plans to merge

Thu, 23 May 2013 05:59:03 -0400

Bahrain's Al Salam Bank and BMI Bank, an affiliate of Oman's Bank Muscat, have announced plans to merge, a tie-up which would create the kingdom's third-largest bank by assets, the lenders said in a ...

Qatar buys stake in Total’s Congo operations

Thu, 23 May 2013 05:58:55 -0400

State-owned Qatar Petroleum International (QPI) has agreed to buy a state in oil giant Total's operations in the Democratic Republic of the ...

Local Haqqani leaders killed in E. Afghanistan

Thu, 23 May 2013 05:14:25 -0400

Two local leaders of the Haqqani militant group had been killed in eastern Afghan province of Paktiya, 100 km south of capital Kabul, said the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Thursday."Afghan and coalition security forces confirmed today the death of two senior Haqqani leaders, Qari Azzam and Mukhlis, during an operation in Zurmat district, Paktiya province, ...

IAEA report indicative of Irans nuclear progress Iranian official

Thu, 23 May 2013 05:14:25 -0400

Iran's permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the recent report of the UN nuclear watchdog about Iranian nuclear program is an indicative of his country's progress and achievements, state- run IRIB TV reported Thursday.The progress in Iran's nuclear program has been made in line with the IAEA regulations and under the watch of the agency, ...

More than 210000 travelers visit Bahrain

Thu, 23 May 2013 05:10:15 -0400

Manama, May 23 (BNA) -- The Assistant Undersecretary for Exits, Search and Follow Up at the Nationality, Passports and Residency General Directorate today announced that 210979 travelers have entered the Kingdom between 16 and 22 May. According to weekly figures, King Fahad Causeway witnessed 173229 travelers entered the Kingdom from KSA and other GCC countries, while 37278 travelers entered ...

Jordan stopped receiving Syrian Refugees at Border

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:16:51 -0400

GENEVA- U.N. officials said Tuesday there has been a sudden fall in the number of Syrian refugees arriving in Jordan, amid reports that Jordan’s government has clamped down on the relentless influx of people escaping Syria’s civil war. Panos Moumtzis, the top U.N. refugee official for Syria, said the usual flow of up to about 3,000 refugees daily had ';dropped to almost ...

Fifa World Cup-themed $820 million mall for Qatar

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:14:36 -0400

A QR 3 billion (US$820 million) World-cup themed shopping mall in Doha which hopes to attract 20 million visitors a year is set to be completed in 2015 the developer said yesterday. Developer UrbaCon Trading & Contracting said the Mall of Qatar, a 162,000 square metre mall located in Doha next to one of the future venues for the FIFA 2022 World Cup, has been designed with a FIFA theme. ...

Disturbances that put spell on Middle East North Africa to be long-term most apparently - Lavrov

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:05:54 -0400

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Qatar still backs dollar peg – cen bank boss

Thu, 23 May 2013 03:59:22 -0400

Rival news agency Reuters quoted the central bank's director of research earlier this week as saying that a "more flexible exchange rate" than the peg allowed would better suit managing inflation risk over the next ...

Kuwait sees quiet revival in arts scene

Thu, 23 May 2013 03:59:21 -0400

After two lacklustre decades, Kuwait is experiencing a quiet revival of an arts scene once known as the most avant garde in the Gulf, thanks to a new generation eager to tackle sensitive issues using cutting-edge art ...

Euro leagues could challenge Qatar 2022 in court

Thu, 23 May 2013 03:59:19 -0400

European football leagues could launch legal challenges if Qatar attempts to move the FIFA World Cup 2022 to winter, the head of Germany's top league has ...

Egypts 2011 jailbreaks still a mystery carry potential embarrassment for Islamist leader

Thu, 23 May 2013 03:43:06 -0400

FILE - In this Wednesday, April 28, 2010 file photo, relatives of the 26 suspected Hezbollah members, accused of plotting attacks on tourists and shipping in the Suez Canal and sending operatives and explosives to Gaza to help militant groups there, waves to prison vehicles carrying them outside Emergency State Security Court in New Cairo, Egypt. It was one of the most perplexing events of ...

Saudi Arabia sees win-win in solar energy boom

Thu, 23 May 2013 03:39:56 -0400

A slide in solar power costs and a surge in oil prices over the last few years has made solar power a win-win strategy for Saudi Arabia: saving billions of dollars of crude for export while making electricity at less than half the ...

2011 jail breaks become political issue in Egypt

Thu, 23 May 2013 02:57:02 -0400

CAIRO -- It was one of the most perplexing events of Egypt's revolution: orchestrated attacks on prisons around the country that broke out more than 20,000 inmates while police were tied down with the massive popular protests that swept autocrat Hosni Mubarak from power.The prison breaks added to the chaos during the 18-day uprising in 2011, and the flood of criminals onto the streets ...

Qatar Airs cargo unit adds three new planes

Thu, 23 May 2013 02:48:18 -0400

The new A330s have replaced three Airbus A300 freighters that the airline has phased out of the fleet to make way for the new state-of-the-art ...

No political crisis in Kuwait claims speaker

Thu, 23 May 2013 02:48:18 -0400

The speaker of Kuwait's National Assembly insisted that there is no "political crisis" in the Gulf state, amid moves to question the oil and interior ministers in ...

U.S. may arm rebels if diplomacy fails Kerry says

Thu, 23 May 2013 02:41:25 -0400

John Kerry said. "In the event that we can't find that way forward, in the event that the Assad regime is unwilling to negotiate in good faith, we will also talk about our continued support and growing support for the opposition in order to permit them to continue to fight for the freedom of their country," Kerry said in Amman, Jordan, before a Friends of Syria meeting with key ...

Mall of Qatar project set for 2015 opening

Thu, 23 May 2013 02:29:48 -0400

Construction has started on Doha's QR3bn ($820m) Mall of Qatar, which will be the largest retail centre in the Gulf state when it is completed in September ...

Report Saudi bailout of Pakistan energy sector likely

Thu, 23 May 2013 02:25:04 -0400

Pakistan may get a bailout worth up to $15 billion from Saudi Arabia for its troubled energy sector, a Pakistani official told Dawn newspaper. The Saudi assistance could consist of supplies of crude and furnace oil on deferred payment at a time when Pakistan's energy sector faces a host of financial and other problems, resulting in constant load shedding or rolling blackouts. The report ...

Blast leaves 12 killed 17 injured in SW Pakistan

Thu, 23 May 2013 01:46:15 -0400

At least 12 people including 10 security men were killed and 17 others injured when a bomb went off near an army vehicle in Pakistan's southwest Quetta city on Thursday morning, local officials ...

Oman Air boosts fleet with three new A330-300

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:31:50 -0400

The aircraft will be operated on long haul routes Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, has placed an order for three A330-300s, growing its A330 Family fleet to a total of ten Airbus aircraft, according to a press release on Wednesday.The aircraft will be operated on long haul routes and can comfortably seat close to 300 passengers."The efficiency, reliability and ...

Morsi appeals to opposition for unified Egypt in face increasingly popular rebellion petition

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:31:46 -0400

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi appealed Wednesday to the opposition for unity, in the face of criticism he is failing the revolution that brought him to power almost a year ...

Bundesliga chief slams Qatar World Cup scheduling

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:59:58 -0400

Bundesliga chief executive Christian Seifert has slammed FIFA's decision to host World Cup 2022 in Qatar during the country's summer.Traditionally, the quadrennial showcase tournament is held during June and July.However, numerous senior football figures have called for FIFA to break with that tradition due to predicted extremely high temperatures in the country during those months.And ...

Syria as a Game-Changer US Political Impotence in the Middle East

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:22:14 -0400

Limitations of US military power became quite obvious in later years. (Photo: Aljazeera) In an article published May 15, 2013, American historical social scientist Immanuel Wallerstein wrote, "Nothing illustrates more the limitations of Western power than the internal controversy its elites are having in public about what the United States in particular and western European states should be ...

US allies want transitional govt in Syria to end crisis

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:16:32 -0400

The foreign ministers of "Friends of Syria" nations said Wednesday that they want a transitional government in Syria that does not include current Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.At a meeting held in the Jordanian capital Amman, the foreign ministers said that Syrian President Assad should hand over power to a transitional government as a way of ending the cycle of violence in the ...

Palestine urges UN Security Council to end provocations by Israel

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:16:31 -0400

Palestine has asked the UN Security Council to press Israel to end its "provocations," including restricting access to holy sites in East Jerusalem, a Palestinian envoy told reporters on Wednesday."We have sent to the president of the Security Council and to the secretary-general, during the course of the last two weeks, four letters about the illegal policies and practices of the ...

Lebanese PM warns of state collapse

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:16:31 -0400

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati warned Wednesday that the "severe political divisions " in Lebanon will inevitably lead to the collapse of the state.Miqati urged all sides to rise above sectarianism, saying "we must exert efforts to restore trust between the political factions and start serious and responsible dialogue that maintains national and constitutional ...

Irans nuclear enrichment capability expanded UN report

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:16:30 -0400

Iran expended its nuclear enrichment capability by installing hundreds of advanced centrifuges in a uranium enrichment plant, the UN nuclear watch dog reported in a confidential document on Wednesday.The report said Iran continues to install the IR-2m centrifuges, which could promote its uranium enrichment significantly in Natanz enrichment plant."As of 15 May 2013, four cascades had been ...

Irans nuke power plant to be launched shortly Russias atomic agency

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:16:29 -0400

Iran's first nuclear power plant in Bushehr could start working "shortly", Russia's state atomic agency Rosatom said Wednesday."I have never announced the exact timing because our absolute priority is safety and the final decision will be made by the customer," Rosatom chief Sergei Kirienko told reporters.He added that Rosatom completely understands Iran's ...

Majority of U.S. Senate panel backs arming rebels

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:14:15 -0400

U.S. Senate panel voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to send weapons to rebels late fighting Syria’s government, but it was not clear who would get the arms even if the bill succeeds, as Washington struggles to deal with its response to the conflict. ...

Syria chemical weapons use increasing U.N.

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:14:14 -0400

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) shake hands as they meet at Bocharov Ruchei state residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi May 17, 2013. (REUTERS/Maxim ...

Kerry Arming rebels on the table if Assad shuns peace talks

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:14:13 -0400

This Tuesday, May 21, 2013 citizen journalism image provided by Edlib News Network, ENN, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows Syrian rebels firing locally made shells made from gas cylinders against the Syrian forces, in Idlib province, northern Syria. (AP Photo/Edlib News Network ...

Little for Kerry to gain from Mideast visit

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:14:12 -0400

United States preoccupied with wider regional threats, tackling the deadlock behind the 65-year conflict has been put on the diplomatic back burner. Nonetheless, the U.S. Secretary of State will be landing in Israel Thursday, with the stated aim of resuming long-stalled negotiations. The visit will be his fourth such trip since taking over the State Department from Hillary Clinton in February, ...

Stagnant development projects imperil Kuwait’s stock market boom

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:14:11 -0400

DUBAI: Kuwait’s stock market boom could run out of steam if the government doesn’t push ahead soon with long-delayed infrastructure projects aimed at diversifying the ...

Egypt boosts FX sale for imports as SP warns on inflation

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:14:10 -0400

Egypt’s central bank sold an unspecified amount of dollars after offering a record $800 million to local lenders at a currency auction to finance imports as Standard & Poor’s warned of accelerating inflation. The benchmark Eurobonds fell. The regulator, which normally offers $40 million at each auction, sold the U.S. currency at a weighted average of 6.972 pounds at its second ...

Egypt factories hit by subsidy cuts highlight Cairo’s fiscal dilemma

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:14:07 -0400

AL-SAFF, Egypt: Hundreds of soot-stained factory chimneys dot the horizon in the industrial city of Al-Saff, south of Cairo, but only a few spew black smoke. Two years after the revolution that overthrew President Hosni Mubarak, Egyptian industry is struggling as political instability has scared off foreign investors and hit domestic confidence and the government has started slashing energy ...

Death toll reaches 13 in north Lebanon city fighting

Wed, 22 May 2013 21:07:01 -0400

Gunfire broke the calm in northern Lebanon's Tripoli on Wednesday, a day after fierce battles rocked the port city, bringing the casualties to 13 killed and 126 injured, a security source said.The source added two soldiers were among the dead and that tens of homes were damaged in the fighting.Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed that the army has been authorized to take necessary ...

Nearly 1000 Tunisians join Arab rebel groups

Wed, 22 May 2013 21:03:53 -0400

More than 500 Tunisians are currently fighting within the ranks of al-Nusra, a Syrian Salafist rebel group, while 123 others are engaged in military training in Libya, according to the ...

Kuwaits ASCO secures $342.2m in financing for Al Amiri Hospital expansion

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:52:59 -0400

A joint venture led by Kuwait's Associated Construction Co (ASCO) has signed a financing agreement with the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) to finance the KD98m ($342.2m) Al Amiri Hospital expansion project, Kuna has reported. The hospital expansion project involves the construction, maintenance and provision of medical equipment for a new tower at the hospital, doubling the existing capacity ...

Sex harassment raps readied vs ex-ambassador to Kuwait

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:44:07 -0400

MANILA, Philippines--Charges of sexual harassment have been filed against recalled Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Shulan Primavera for allegedly abusing a household helper several times in 2012, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Wednesday. Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez, the DFA spokesman, said on Wednesday that Primavera would soon face a formal hearing after the charges were ...

Filipino Workers to Get More Rights in Saudi Arabia

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:58:33 -0400

story on domestic workers in the U.S. , as part of our Global Nation coverage. Well, there are more than half a million Filipinos working in Saudi Arabia and until this week they had very few protections. The governments of Saudi Arabia and the Philippines have now signed an agreement giving Filipino workers more rights – specifically Filipino household service workers. Anchor Marco ...

Prosor angered by UNRWA’s map of Arab Palestine

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:50:24 -0400

NEW YORK - Early this month, Ann Dismorr, director of the UN Relief and Works Agency in Lebanon, stood in front of cameras holding a map of Israel labeled "Arab Palestine." Framed in green and black and shoddily printed, the projected Palestinian state is shown surrounded by countries with modern borders: Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.Israeli officials are well used to seeing maps of ...

Saudi Arabia reports 17th death of novel coronavirus

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:46:32 -0400

RIYADH, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia reported Wednesday the 17th death out of 31 novel coronavirus infection cases in the country, according to an official statement. The 17th victim of the virus was a non-Saudi in al-Qassim region, who has been admitted to hospital a few days ago due to severe ...

Muslim Brotherhood Not Qualified to Run Egypt Says Former Member

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:29:56 -0400

Hossam Abdel Moniem, a former leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood, said that the leaders of the Egypt's ruling group are not qualified to rule the country, given that the members were once prevented from taking any executive position during the era of the Hosni Mubarak ...

Transitional Justice Elusive in Arab Spring Nations

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:51:47 -0400

Egyptian riot police take up positions outside the building where former president Hosni Mubarak is being tried in connection with the killing of Arab Spring ...

Egypt leader claims victory in captives release

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:47:35 -0400

This image made from video broadcast on Egyptian State Television shows members of the Egyptian security forces after their release by kidnappers, in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, May 22, 2013. Six Egyptian policemen and a border guard kidnapped by suspected militants in the volatile Sinai Peninsula last week were freed by their captors Wednesday after successful mediation, the country's military ...

Tunisia Salafist spokesman released on bail

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:37:57 -0400

Ansar al-Sharia spokesman Seifeddine Rais, detained in the Tunisian city of Kairouan at the weekend as police enforced a government ban on its annual congress, was released on bail on Wednesday, ...

Egypt to boost fuel supply to ease power shortages

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:37:54 -0400

CAIRO: The Egyptian government said on Wednesday it would supply more gas and diesel to power stations to deal with electricity shortages that have worsened in recent months after the cash-strapped country failed to import enough fuel. The government has set aside $200 million to finance the additional petroleum products and is in the process of approving an additional $525 million, the cabinet ...

Kerry in Oman praises Raytheon defense contract

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:12:12 -0400

Raytheon Co. 's $1.6 billion contract for an Omani air defense system. In remarks Wednesday before his meeting with Omani Defense Minister Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi, Kerry mentioned Raytheon's presence in his home state, Massachusetts, and praised Omani Sultan Qaboos, with whom Kerry met Tuesday. Kerry also noted a "transition taking place throughout the Middle East, throughout the ...

MLB Atlanta 8 Minnesota 3

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:01:20 -0400

Evan Gattis hit a grand slam home run to close a five-run fourth inning for Atlanta Wednesday in the Braves' 8-3 interleague win over Minnesota. It was the sixth consecutive win for the Braves while Minnesota is going the other way with an eight-game losing streak. Gattis hit his 10th homer of the year while Ramiro Pena ...

Abdullah bin Zayed participates in Friends of Syria meeting in Jordan

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:57:23 -0400

Amman, 22 May 2013 (WAM) - Foreign Minister H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan took part in the meeting of the 'Friends of Syria' group, held today in Amman. The meeting discussed the current situation in Syria after the Syrian army regained large part of the strategic city of Al Qussair and after a call by Qatar to held an emergency meeting of the Arab League to discuss means ...

Emiratis are stars of Ramadan TV

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:29:23 -0400

ABU DHABI // A series of Emirati-made and themed programmes will be broadcast for the first time during Ramadan. Local content is being prioritised by the Abu Dhabi Al Emarat channel over the Holy Month. New shows include Zaman Lol, a light drama about two friends who meet again after years apart and remember their youth in the 1970s. The programme will star Emirati actor Ghanem Al Sulaiti. A ...

Egypt law cuts tax rates for low income earners

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:14:50 -0400

CAIRO--Egypt's president signed a new tax law Tuesday that cuts the amount paid by poorer Egyptians in the latest move aimed at reforming the country's ...

Majid Al Futtaim acquires full ownership of Carrefour in the Middle East

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:15:13 -0400

Carrefour 's 25 per cent stake in its hypermarket business for EUR530 million (Dh2.50 billion). Under the deal signed today, Majid Al Futtaim will own 100 per cent of Majid Al Futtaim Hypermarkets' shares, the Dubai-based retailer said in a statement. At the same time, MAF extended its exclusive franchise partnership with the Carrefour Group until 2025. The pair have been partners ...

Bahrain opposition group snubs crisis talks

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:13:00 -0400

MANAMA, Bahrain -; Bahrain's main Shiite opposition group says it will temporarily boycott talks aimed at easing the Gulf nation's more than two-year unrest because of increased crackdowns by security ...

Friends of Syria meet amid conflict

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:05:03 -0400

Britain and Qatar urged President Bashar al-Assad to step down, as major world powers gathered on Wednesday to seek ways toward a peaceful end to Syria's conflict.And the United States urged Assad to make a "commitment to find peace" in a country whose conflict has killed more than 94,000 people and threatens to spill beyond its borders."It is the long-standing view of the UK ...

Natanz speeds up IAEA

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:05:02 -0400

Iran has accelerated the installation of advanced nuclear machines at its Natanz plant in the last three months, the UN atomic agency said in a report Wednesday.The International Atomic Energy Agency said that Iran has installed at Natanz almost 700 IR-2m centrifuges and empty centrifuge casings, used to enrich uranium, compared with just 180 in ...

Ahmadinejad to contest vote ban

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:05:01 -0400

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday he will ask supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to reverse what he branded the unjust disqualification of a close aide from next month's presidential election.The conservative-dominated Guardians Council on Tuesday eliminated the aide, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie, and ex-president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani from a list of eight candidates ...

Michael Jordan Brings The Buzz Back To Charlotte

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:04:46 -0400

" Well it applies here. Once upon a time, the Hornets posted 364 straight sold-out games. And some of most recognizable and marketable players in the NBA played in Charlotte. The list includes Muggsy Bogues standing 5'3" was the biggest little man in the league; Larry Johnson, nicknamed Grandmama, once signed the most lucrative contract in the NBA and was the first to make bling ...

Iran expanding nuclear activities IAEA

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:03:17 -0400

IRAN is making significant progress in expanding its nuclear programme, including in opening up a potential second route to developing the bomb, a new UN atomic agency report shows. The International Atomic Energy Agency's latest quarterly report said that Tehran has accelerated the installation of advanced uranium enrichment equipment at its central Natanz plant. It also outlined further ...

General says Israel ready to attack Syria should Assad fall

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:03:14 -0400

An Israeli soldier stands on top of a tank with other tanks parked at a training ground in the Israeli controlled Golan Heights, near the border with Syria Wednesday, May 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Ariel ...

Turkey foils alleged attacks on Syrian refugees

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:03:12 -0400

In this photo taken Sunday, May 12, 2013, Syrian refugees shelter in a two-story wedding ceremony hall in the Turkish town of Reyhanli, near the border with Syria. (AP Photo/Burhan ...

Bahrain To Take Part In Afro-Arab Parliamentary Conference

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:01:21 -0400

Manama, May 22 (BNA)-- A Bahraini parliamentary delegation will take part in the 13th Afro-Arab Parliamentary Conference set to be held in Rabat, Morocco, on June 26 and 27, Representatives Council Speaker and Head of the Parliamentary Delegation Executive Committee Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Dhahrani announced as he chaired today the committee's meeting. The delegation will be headed by ...

Al Dhahrani We Look Forward To Boosting Cooperation Between Arab Legislative Councils

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:01:21 -0400

Manama, May 22 (BNA)-- Representatives Council Speaker Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Dhahrani stressed the key role played by the Arab Parliament in boosting cooperation between the Arab legislative councils and caring for human rights issues. He was speaking as he received today members of the Arab Parliament Legislative, Legal and Human Rights Affairs Committee, in the presence of Representatives ...

Bahrain hosts of US Navy fleet claims Iranian drone recovered

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:44:02 -0400

MANAMA, Bahrain - Bahrain's Interior Ministry says an Iranian drone has been found in the strategic Gulf kingdom that hosts the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet. The statement Wednesday gave no other details. Bahrain has repeatedly accused Shiite Iran of encouraging the more than 2-year-long uprising in Bahrain by its majority Shiites. Iran denies it has any direct role. Iran has recently ...

UPDATE 1-Carrefour sells stake in Middle East venture for $683 mln

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:37:04 -0400

Wed May 22, 2013 1:37pm EDT * Dubai-based MAF to buy Carrefour's 25 pct stake * MAF to pay 530 million euros for stake - statement * MAF to issue hybrid bond to fund deal - sources (Recasts with MAF statement and details on hybrid bond) By Praveen Menon and Dinesh Nair DUBAI, May 22 (Reuters) - Carrefour, Europe's largest retailer, agreed to sell its remaining 25-percent stake in a ...

Iran pushes ahead with new nuclear plant that worries West

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:02:38 -0400

By Fredrik DahlVIENNA (Reuters) - Iran is pressing ahead with the construction of a research reactor that Western experts say could offer it a second way of producing material for a nuclear bomb if it decides to make one, a U.N. report showed on Wednesday.Iran has transported the reactor vessel to the heavy water plant near the central town of Arak but has not yet installed it, the International ...

Friends of Syrian Opposition Meet in Jordan

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:58:16 -0400

Amman, May 22 (Prensa Latina) Delegates from 11 countries supporting irregular armed groups in Syria began a meeting today in this capital, to discuss the current context and adopt decisions on the beginning of talks with the government of the Arab country. Diplomats from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are attending the ...

Manama Declared Capital of Arab Media for the Years 2013 and 2014

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:47:02 -0400

Manama, May 22. (BNA) -- Minister of State for Information Affairs Samira Ibrahim bint Rajab and the Secretary-General of the Arab Media Forum Madhi Abdulla Khamis have signed a Cooperation Protocol on declaring Manama as capital of Arab Media for the years 2013-2014. On the occasion, the Minister of State affirmed that Manama was worthy of being chosen as Capital of Arab Media, adding that ...

Middle Easts killer virus whats in a name

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:45:53 -0400

For a pathogen with such a short history, the mysterious new virus killing people in the Middle East and Europe has already had an amazing array of ...

Egypt court sentences four men to hang for killing priest

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:31:07 -0400

CAIRO (Reuters) - An Egyptian court sentenced four men on Wednesday to death by hanging for the 2011 killing of a Coptic Christian priest in his apartment in the southern city of Assiut, state news agency MENA ...

US Oman talk $2.1 billion defence deal

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:26:38 -0400

The vote followed the committee's decision to embrace a Republican move to ease restrictions on high-tech US companies that want to hire more skilled workers from countries like India and ...

Egypt kidnapped security personnel freed in Sinai

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:22:07 -0400

"The seven security personnel have been released by their kidnappers in Sinai," military spokesman Ahmed Aly said in a statement carried by the official MENA ...

Musical Arab-Jewish youth seek the key to coexistence

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:19:27 -0400

A Yale University alumnus and veteran of the school's famed a capella groups has brought his talents to Jerusalem, where he launched an Arab-Jewish youth ...

Asia Crude-MRPL bought Oman oil to replace Iran oil

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:01:29 -0400

NEW DELHI | Wed May 22, 2013 12:01pm EDT NEW DELHI May 22 (Reuters) - India's MRPL has bought 600,000 barrels of Omani crude oil from trader Vitol for lifting in the first half of July, two sources with knowledge of the deal said, as the refiner avoids Iranian oil due to western sanctions. Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) has also bought about 600,000 barrels of ...

Long road to transition for Arab countries

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:49:03 -0400

The past two years have been difficult for the Arab countries in transition - Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Yemen - and the situation will remain difficult in the near term. Unless countries adopt a comprehensive policy package that aims to maintain macroeconomic stability and lays the foundations for job-creating growth, the hopes and aspirations of people will be dashed, with ...

With 66 growth Patrol sets pace for Nissan sales in Middle East

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:48:51 -0400

Sales of Nissan cars increased across the Middle East by more than a quarter in the past financial year, slightly outpacing the overall market. The 26.2 per cent rise helped the company capture a market share of 14.4 per cent in the Arabian Gulf during the period. It is estimated that the market grew by about 25 per cent in 2012. "It would be difficult not to be pleased with 26 per cent ...

Qatar Petroleum Takes 15 Stake in Total EP Congo

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:45:42 -0400

Qatar Petroleum International (QPI) and Total announced the signing of a framework of Agreement whereby QPI will participate in Total E&P Congo through its subscription to a 15 percent share capital increase of this company. This participation reinforces Qatar's commitment to invest in Africa and illustrates Congo's willingness to welcome Qatar as a new partner. Furthermore, thanks ...

Egypt-Gaza Crossing Reopens after Liberation of Hostages

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:45:07 -0400

Cairo, May 22 (Prensa Latina) The border crossing at Rafah city, linking Egypt and Gaza, reopened today after five days of being shut down by soldiers due to the kidnapping of seven guards. The crisis involving seven members of the Egyptian security corps, kidnapped six days ago in the Sinai Peninsula, ended today in an anti-climax, their liberation achieved through the mediation of Bedouins. The ...

Iran qualifies 8 candidates bars 2 hopefuls ahead of

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:38:50 -0400

Iran's Guardian Council of Constitution announced the names of eight eligible candidates for the upcoming presidential election while barring two major political figures from running for presidency.Among the qualified candidates, nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, former foreign minister Ali- Akbar Velayati, senior lawmaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, and ...

Oman Air Orders Three A330-300 Aircraft

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:33:54 -0400

Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, has placed an order for three A330-300s, growing its A330 Family fleet to a total of ten Airbus aircraft. The aircraft will be operated on long haul routes and can comfortably seat close to 300 passengers. "The efficiency, reliability and passenger appeal of our in-service A330’s already make The Pillar of Oman Air’s ...

Young faces enliven Kuwaits faded art scene

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:30:21 -0400

View Photo Reuters/Reuters - Kuwaiti graphic designer Mohammad Sharaf talks about his work in his office in Hawalli, May 1, 2013. After two lackluster decades, Kuwait is experiencing a quiet revival of an arts scene ...

Kerry warns Syrias Assad against rejecting political solution

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:27:00 -0400

AMMAN, May 22 (Reuters) - Western governments are ready to increase support to opponents of President Bashar al-Assad if he rejects a political solution to Syria's civil war, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday. Kerry said recent military gains by Assad's forces were only temporary and that if he believed the counter-offensives against the rebels would be ...

How Soccer Can Help Us Predict the Next Arab Spring Revolution

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:19:28 -0400

In some countries, those engaging in public forms of dissent are often tortured and "disappeared." Soccer fans, in contrast, are allowed to vent as much as they want, and in large ...

Russia says Assads foes lack commitment to peace talks

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:17:17 -0400

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Wednesday that the Syrian opposition had not yet shown enough commitment to efforts to arrange a peace conference with ...

In Brotherhoods Egypt blasphemy charges against Christians surge ahead

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:07:09 -0400

A blasphemy trial against a Christian teacher in this Egyptian city renowned for its Pharaonic monuments is among a wave of cases that have Egyptian Christians worried they can be jailed for insulting Islam on the flimsiest of ...

UN emergency fund provides $9.8 million to assist Syrian refugees in Jordan

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:36:52 -0400

CERF ) has provided $9.8 million to support the establishment of a new camp for Syrian refugees in Jordan and to help meet the growing needs of those fleeing the ongoing conflict. ';With this CERF funding, UN agencies will be able to better meet the needs of the influx of people fleeing the increasingly desperate situation in Syria,'; said the ...

Shlomo Maoz Arabs pay higher interest rates

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:26:47 -0400

"If I live in Israel and I'm Bedouin or Arab, the interest rate I pay is higher. The closer I get to the White Men and Tel Aviv, the interest rate I pay ...

Iran Hezbollah increasing support for Assad U.K.

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:24:15 -0400

Hezbollah were "propping up" Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and giving him increasing support. "It is very clear that Syrian regime is receiving a great deal of support, increasing support in recent months from ...

QRail to render Qatar unrecognisable by 2019

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:23:53 -0400

A senior executive at Qatar Rail (QRail) has revealed the staggering statistics behind the $40bn slew of rail-based contracts now getting underway across the State of Qatar, in a Qatar University seminar dedicated to the national endeavour. Broken down the programme includes a light rail transit linking Lusail and West Bay to be completed by 2017, the first phases of both the long-distance ...

Human Rights Minister Bahrain Has Presented Itself as a Model in Implementing BICIs Recommendations

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:22:12 -0400

Rabat, May 22. (BNA) -- On the sidelines of the Kingdom's human rights delegation's visit to Morocco, at the invitation of the Inter-ministerial Delegation on Human Rights here, Human Rights Affairs Minister Dr. Salah bin Ali Abdulrahman met here today with the Attorney General of the King at the Court of Cassation Mustafa. During the meeting, Mustafa Maddah welcomed the ...

Deputy Premier Receives British Ambassador to Bahrain

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:22:12 -0400

Manama, May 22. (BNA) -- Deputy Premier Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa received here today the British Ambassador to Bahrain Iain Lindsay. They reviewed the positive outcomes of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa's recent visit to the United Kingdom and the warm welcome and hospitality accorded to him by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and British senior officials. The ...

Qatar hits fresh 28-month high UAE markets mixed

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:21:01 -0400

Elsewhere, Dubai's benchmark gained 0.2 percent to finish at 2,323 points, giving back some early-session gains as investors booked some gains in UAE stocks. Abu Dhabi's index slipped 0.2 percent to 3,503 points, down for a third session since Monday's 54-month ...

Crowell Moring Cairo advises ADIB-Egypt on landmark Islamic Finance deal

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:17:50 -0400

) in connection with a landmark Islamic Finance facility extended to Maridive and Oil Services SAE. Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank- Egypt was the Initial Mandated Lead Arranger (IMLA) and the global coordinator in the deal, coordinating the financing with Abu Dhabi Islamic bank (UAE), Arab African International Bank, Banque du Caire and Arab International Bank. The deal is the first Islamic Ijara ...

MIDEAST STOCKS-Kuwait dips from 4-yr high as rally stalls mkts mixed

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:12:57 -0400

By Nadia Saleem DUBAI | Wed May 22, 2013 10:12am EDT DUBAI May 22 (Reuters) - Kuwait's rally stalled on Wednesday as investors booked profits in bluechip and mid-cap stocks, while other Middle East markets were mixed in lacklustre trade. Kuwait's index fell 0.3 percent, easing from Tuesday's near four-year high. Telecom operator Zain and National Bank of Kuwait shed 1 and ...

U.S. stands by Yemen Kerry says

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:55:32 -0400

John Kerry said. Kerry said Yemen has made important strides in transitioning toward a democratic government. "Yemenis from all walks of life have come together to chart a new course for their country through their National Dialogue, setting an example for the region of meaningful change through negotiation, inclusion and reconciliation," he said in a statement. Yemeni President Abdu ...

Iranian unmanned aircraft found in Bahrain

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:55:31 -0400

An Iranian unmanned aircraft was discovered in northern Bahrain near Saudi Arabia, the Bahraini interior ministry said in a statement. In the statement issued late Tuesday, Interior Minister Sheik Rashid bin Abdullah al-Khalifa condemned Iranian spying efforts and accused Tehran of interfering with the internal affairs of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The minister expressed gratitude to Saudi ...

Syria to reject outcome of Friends of Syria meeting envoy

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:08:11 -0400

Syrian Ambassador to Jordan Bahjat Suleiman said Wednesday that his country will reject the outcome of the "Friends of Syria" meeting slated to open soon in Amman.Speaking at a press conference, Suleiman said "we cannot accept any of the results of the so-called Friends of Syria meeting."The diplomat slammed the countries that will partake in the meeting as "Friends of ...

Syrian army advances in Qussair city amid rebels strong resistance

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:08:11 -0400

The Syrian army continued on Wednesday its wide-scale operation in the central strategic city of al-Qussair amid a strong resistance from the rebels.The governmental troops have restored security and stability to Al-Akari and Tal Sar villages and hunted down rebels in the town of al-Hamidieh on the outskirts of al-Qussair, state-run SANA news agency said Wednesday.The army pushed its way into ...

Sri Lanka to resume refinery on Friday with Oman light crude

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:06:57 -0400

Wed May 22, 2013 9:06am EDT * Oman crude shipment of 1 mln barrels expected on Friday * Refinery built to process Iranian oil, yields low from Omani * Sri Lanka decides to import Murban light - minister * Sri Lanka has been buying Iran oil in mid sea - opposition MP By Shihar Aneez and Ranga Sirilal COLOMBO, May 22 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's sole refinery, which was closed last week due to a ...

Sembcorp opens $1bn plant in Omans Salalah

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:03:22 -0400

The facility includes a gas-fired power plant and seawater desalination plant, and will provide water and power to the Gulf country under a 15-year purchase ...

Chevron to sell downstream assets in Egypt Pakistan

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:03:19 -0400

Chevron is the second largest oil company in US Chevron Corp is in advanced talks to sell most of its downstream assets in Egypt and Pakistan, three sources said, with the planned disposals seen raising around $300 million for the U.S. oil major.Chevron, the second-largest U.S. oil company, is conducting a separate sale process for its assets in both countries, the banking sources said, speaking ...

Egypt Central Bank to auction $800 million forex again

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:03:16 -0400

Street vendor distributing bread in Egypt Egypt's central bank said on Tuesday it would offer $800 million to banks at an exceptional auction of foreign currency on Wednesday to cover the country's strategic import needs.The auction will be the central bank's second exceptional sale of foreign exchange. In April, it sold $600 million to pay for wheat, meat, cooking oil and other ...

France beefs up Africa Middle East embassy security

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:56:16 -0400

PARIS, May 22 (Reuters) - France will invest about 20 million euros ($25 million) to increase security for diplomats and embassies in the Middle East and Africa after its mission in Libya was targeted by a car bomb in April, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. Spokesman Philippe Lalliot confirmed an email sent by Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius to staff on Tuesday saying the measure ...

Statement by Bishops and Representatives of Jordan on Kidnapping of Syrian Prelates

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:48:12 -0400

Here is a statement released by the Bishops and Representatives of the Churches in Jordan regarding the kidnapping of two Metropolitans in Aleppo, ...

Iran denies link to group arrested for spying in Saudi Arabia

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:47:34 -0400

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran denied on Wednesday any link to members of a spying ring detained by its Sunni Muslim regional rival Saudi Arabia, according to Iranian ...

Turkey shuts Syria border crossing after deadly bombings

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:58:28 -0400

Fifty-one people were killed when twin car bombs ripped through the Turkish border town of Reyhanli in the southern province of Hatay on May 11, heightening fears ...

Iranian drone spotted in Bahrains airspace

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:57:27 -0400

Bahrain's Interior Minister on Wednesday said an Iranian drone was spotted in Bahrain's airspace in the northern part of the country near Saudi Arabia.Lieutenant-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa said that Iran is increasingly meddling in the internal affairs of both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, adding that Bahrain has uncovered a terror cell linked to Iran."Iran's ...

Kerry hails tentative $2.1bn arms sale to Oman

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:52:33 -0400

US Secretary of State John Kerry hailed on Wednesday what US officials said was an estimated $2.1bn deal for Oman to buy a ground-based air defence system from US defence contractor Raytheon ...

Mobinil Ericsson to bring next generation internet technology to Egypt

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:49:01 -0400

Growing consumer demand for mobile connectivity in Egypt has resulted in a new agreement between Mobinil and Ericsson whereby Ericsson will modernize Mobinil's ...

To locate the next Arab Spring revolution look to the soccer stands

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:44:12 -0400

globalization . Now a Singapore-based bloggersays soccer can tell us which Middle East or North African government will be the next to blow. At the top of the list: Algeria and Saudi Arabia. Over at his ...

EURCHF hits a new high this year pushed by SNBs Jordan

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:37:40 -0400

Legal disclaimer and risk disclosure Forex trading carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. It could also result in losses equalling or exceeding your initial investment. Before deciding to invest in Forex trading, you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience and risk appetite. You are strongly advised to carry out your own ...

Michael Jordan summons Hugo the Hornet to Charlotte

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:34:09 -0400

NBA franchise's application Tuesday to re-claim the name of the city's original basketball team : the Hornets. A name change requires approval from the 30 members of the NBA board of governors. The league will vote on the name change in July. If approved, Charlotte would play one more season as the Bobcats and become the Hornets for the 2014-15 season. Until last month, New Orleans was ...

Arab Parliament Decries Iranian Foreign Ministrys Bahrain Statement

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:24:29 -0400

WAM CAIRO, May 22nd, 2013 (WAM)-- The Arab Parliament expressed its objection to what it called blatant Iranian intervention in Bahraini domestic affairs. The statement made recently by Hussain Amir Abdallahyan, Iran's Assistant Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs, was deemed "a brazen intervention" and an "unusual behavior " that contradicts all international ...

Oman confirms they are free of Coronavirus

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:24:26 -0400

WAM MUSCAT, May 22nd, 2013 (WAM) -- Oman has confirmed that the country is free of the Coronavirus. The Oman News Agency (ONA) quoted from an official source at the Ministry of Health, saying it has not recorded any cases of the virus so far. The Ministry of Health formed a clinical technician working group to deal with any cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by infections of the ...

SNC urges world to stop Hezbollah Iran invasion of Qusair

Wed, 22 May 2013 06:46:42 -0400

Iran invasion of Qusair.In a statement, Acting SNC chief George Sabra called on the U.N. Security Council to convene an emergency meeting to address the "violations" of Syrian's sovereignty and the lives of its ...

Oman Air places order for Airbus planes

Wed, 22 May 2013 06:43:40 -0400

The order will grow the airline's A330 fleet to a total of 10 Airbus aircraft. The aircraft will be operated on long haul routes and will seat close to 300 passengers, Airbus said in a ...

Rent up 30 in Saudi Arabia

Wed, 22 May 2013 06:43:30 -0400

It is expected that the rents of apartments in the south and east of Jeddah to drop In a surprising move, rent prices for apartments and villas shot up by 30 percent, according to real estate experts.Experts say the rent hikes were due to rising costs of building and renovation, and the increase in the wages of workers in the construction and management of building. In Jeddah, for example, it is ...

Egypt Security Officers Kidnappers Must be Pursued and Captured

Wed, 22 May 2013 06:22:55 -0400

Cairo - Supreme Guide of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, Mohamed Badie, extended his greetings to President Mohamed Mursi, the Armed Forces and the Bedouins of Sinai on Wednesday for their efforts in releasing the seven kidnapped security officers. Badie stressed through his Twitter account the necessity to hold the perpetrators of this abduction accountable. "Congratulations to the ...

Arab Idol competition fiercer after double elimination

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:50:43 -0400

The Emirati judge Ahlam reminisced on her two times performing in the Palestine Territories, and promised to sing alongside Assaf the next time she performs there. Her fellow judge Ragheb Alama, from Lebanon, also showered the 22-year-old with praise, comparing his voice to "fragrant jasmine" and calling him "a gift to the Arab ...

Life in Jordans desert city

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:49:04 -0400

Jordan's Zaatari refugee camp is home to 170,000 people from Syria who have fled the fighting. While camps are the more visible part of the refugee crisis, the majority of refugees in Jordan live in towns and cities where they face different problems. Rents have tripled over the past six months as landlords cash in on the new demand for housing. Swiss photographer Olivier Vogelsang visited ...

Diplomats Iran expands nuke technology

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:48:28 -0400

Herman Nackaerts, left, Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, shakes hands with Iran's Ambassador to the IAEA, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, after their talks at the permanent mission of Iran in Vienna, Austria, Wednesday, May 15, 2013. U.N. nuclear agency officials are meeting with Iranian counterparts in a renewed attempt ...

WEF on ME North Africa to open in Jordan

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:45:32 -0400

The three-day meeting, convening under the theme Advancing Conditions for Growth and Resilience, will focus on shaping the region's economic, social and governance systems of the future. The meeting will convene over 900 leaders from the Gulf region, the Levant, North Africa and internationally. Representatives of business, government, civil society, youth and media will come together to ...

SNC urges Syrian rebels to join Qusair battle

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:39:13 -0400

Syrian National Coalition urged Wednesday rebel forces to join the battle in Qusair and appealed to the world to stop what it said was an "invasion" of the border town ...

Syria’s Mekdad heads to Moscow

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:39:10 -0400

Geneva next month.European diplomatic sources said Tuesday the Syrian regime has put forward a list of five officials as potential negotiators in talks with the opposition.They said the list, provided to Moscow in early March, includes Prime ...

Gaza-Egypt crossing at Rafah reopens witnesses

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:39:08 -0400

In this Monday, Aug. 6, 2012 file photograph, the Rafah border terminal between Egypt and Gaza, and the only gateway for Gaza's people, is closed and guarded by Egyptian border guards in Rafah, Egypt. (AP Photo/Ahmed Gomaa, ...

Damac emerges from Egypt tussle poorer but clean

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:38:38 -0400

with Egypt’s government, but at a significant cost, according to figures published by an Egyptian newspaper. Under the terms of the deal, Damac will pay an additional $20.77m to reclaim the right to construct its "Park Avenue" mall and commercial project on the Cairo-Alexandria road, while it will forfeit its stake in local developer, ‘Hyde Park Properties for Development ...

Events industry on Middle East carbon footprint

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:38:38 -0400

Members of the professional sound and light industry tackled the issue of carbon footprint produced by events held in the Middle East. During a panel discussion at PALME Middle East 2013, experts looked at whether the massive amount of energy needed to put on everything from spectacular launch parties to concerts and shows can be justified. The event industry is a significant energy consumer ...

World Bank pledges financial support to Jordan

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:35:51 -0400

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Image courtesy of The Telegraph On Tuesday, the World Bank announced that it will supply Jordan with "substantial funds" to help the country cope with the huge influx of Syrian refugees that it has been receiving since the start of the conflict.Since the onset of violence in ...

Bahrain MPs vote to ban pork in kingdom

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:28:23 -0400

Lawmakers in Bahrain have approved a change in legislation that would criminalise the sale, import, export, production and possession of all pork products, it was ...

Dare to dream Everest climber tells Arab girls

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:11:54 -0400

"Thank you very much. I’m at the Everest Base Camp waiting for my helicopter," said a voice battered into weak decibels by wind and altitude, but still resonating with the excitement of a world ...

Irans Ahmadinejad denounces election decision

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:40:44 -0400

TEHRAN, Iran -; Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says a decision by election overseers to disqualify his top aide from an upcoming presidential race is an act of "oppression" and he will take the case to the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali ...

Egypts EFG Hermes says Q1 net profit jumps 27 pct

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:40:39 -0400

CAIRO | Wed May 22, 2013 4:40am EDT CAIRO May 22 (Reuters) - EFG Hermes, Egypt's biggest investment bank, saw net profit jump 27 percent in the first quarter from the same period a year earlier, the bank said on Wednesday. Net profit for the period increased to 98 million Egyptian pounds ($14 million) from 77.0 million pounds in the first quarter of 2012, the bank said in a ...

Iranian president to challenge ban against aide from

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:33:29 -0400

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday that he will take up the ban against his top aide, Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei, from running in the upcoming presidential election with supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, semi-official ISNA news agency ...

Iraqi PM orders reshuffle of top security officers

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:33:28 -0400

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki ordered a reshuffle of top security officers after recent attacks left hundreds of people killed and wounded, a government statement said on Wednesday."The Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces Nuri al-Maliki today after consultation with security officials issued decrees of changes in the operations command and the commands of divisions," ...

AP condemns Irans interference in Bahrains internal affairs

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:29:55 -0400

Cairo, May 22 (BNA) - The Arab Parliament denounced the remarks said by Iranian Assistant Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hussain Amir Abdullahyan on the Kingdom of Bahrain, considering the same as unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and uncharacteristic behavior in international relations and contrary to all international laws and ...

Top US official in Oman for $2.1bn arms deal signing

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:28:53 -0400

US Secretary of State John Kerry flew to Oman on Tuesday for Raytheon Co's signing of an estimated $2.1bn arms deal and to consult on Syria and Iran, US officials ...

Why have Syrian refugees stopped entering Jordan

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:28:49 -0400

The number of Syrian refugees entering Jordan has almost ground to a halt over the last four days, with conflicting reports coming from the border as to ...

Bicycle bomb kills 1 wounds 5 in Afghanistans Ghazni

Wed, 22 May 2013 03:26:45 -0400

One Afghan civilian was killed and five others were wounded Wednesday morning when an improvised bomb went off in Ghazni city, the provincial capital of eastern Ghazni province, police said."An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attached to a bicycle exploded at around 8:40 am local time in third police district in Ghazni city, killing one civilian and wounding five others," deputy ...

Turkeys TAV to bid for Kuwait Bahrain airport contracts

Wed, 22 May 2013 03:21:41 -0400

Middle East director Yusuf Akcayoglu told Construction Week the company is waiting for the release of tender documents for the new passenger terminal building project at Kuwait International Airport and for the Bahrain Airport expansion ...

Virtual Job Fair for The Middle East

Wed, 22 May 2013 03:07:31 -0400

Monster Gulf, an online career and recruitment solutions providers in the region announced its Virtual Job Fair for The Middle East, taking place from 26th – 30th ...

Irans Ahmadinejad says will challenge allys ban from election

Wed, 22 May 2013 03:06:58 -0400

Iran's electoral watchdog on Tuesday disqualified Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie, Ahmadinejad's former chief of staff, from running in the June 14 presidential vote. "In my opinion there will be no problem with the Leader and I will take up this issue until the last moment with him," Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday, according to the ISNA news agency. "I am hopeful the problem ...