Middle East back issues from April 2006:
Ragheb Alama's victory at the 'Formula One'.(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2006 ... Prominent Lebanese singer Ragheb Alama was victorious at the world renowned car race 'Formula One 2006,' which took place in Bahrain earlier this month, placing third in the race. According to the London based Elaph, Ragheb was presented his trophy amidst a large crowd of ...
Haifa Wahbi involved with a French boxer.(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2006 ... Lebanese director Randa Alshihal has revealed that singer Haifa Wahbi will play a leading role in a new film alongside a French boxer, named Ibrahim Saloum who is of Arab origin. Haifa will play the role of a club owner who gets involved with the boxer and his friends in kidnapping three ...
Muna Zaki's pregnancy a rumor.
Apr 01, 2006 ... Young Egyptian actress Muna Zaki has denied circulating rumors that she is currently expecting her second child. The actress stressed that the rumor was created by jealous individuals who wanted to place obstacles in her career path and make way for other actresses. Muna added ...
No plans between Ragheb Alama and Jennifer Lopez.(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2006 ... Prominent Lebanese superstar Ragheb circulating rumors that he intends on playing the leading role in a new film alongside internationally known actress Jennifer Lopes and to be directed by Egyptian director/producer Sharif Sabri, who is also the business manager of Egyptian controversial ...
Saudi king vows reforms and development.
Apr 01, 2006 ... Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz patronized Saturday the inaugural ceremony of the activities of the second year of the fourth session of the Shoura (consultative) Council. According to SPA, in his speech he stressed Saudi Arabia's adherence to Islam which calls for justice and ...
HAMAS V. FATAH
Apr 01, 2006; ... THE NEW BROOMS of Hamas versus the old guard of Fatah - the transfer of power has begun and all the signs are that it will not go smoothly. Ed Blanche reports HAMAS' TRIUMPH IN THE PALESTINIAN PARLIAMENTARY elections in January, soundly defeating the mainstream Fatah movement that has ...
Saddam: down but not yet out
Apr 01, 2006; ... The ongoing trial of Saddam Hussein has almost taken a back seat in the news, ousted by reports of the violence and bloodletting in Iraq. However Dr Sahib Al Hakim, who conducted a long campaign against the Iraqi despot, continues to keep a close eye on proceedings and says many questions remain ...
EDITORIAL COMMENT
Apr 01, 2006; ... AS THE MIDDLE EAST WENT TO press Israelis were gearing up for parliamentary elections on 28 March. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has given his personal endorsement to Israel's acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (Kadima). Speaking to the press in early March he observed: "We will respect the ...
God's counsel as a foreign policy?
Apr 01, 2006; ... It is becoming increasingly popular with political leaders around the world to invoke the name of God to prop up their misguided and flimsy political policies, particularly in the arena of foreign affairs. This is at best disingenuous, at worst irreligious and offensive. British Prime Minister ...
A stitch in time...
Apr 01, 2006; ... A founder member of George Bush's now infamous Axis of Evil, Iran now finds itself at the axis of world affairs: a position which is making governments around the world uneasy. UNEASY, NOT SIMPLY FOR THE VERY real concern regarding Iran's intentions towards its neighbours (particularly ...
Everybody's doing it
Apr 01, 2006; ... IRAQ IS NOT ALONE, NIGERIAN TROOPS KILLED 12 MENINA gun battle after they were caught stealing crude oil from a pipeline in the Niger Delta, the country's oil-producing region, in January. Eight other suspects were arrested. Siphoning crude oil from pipelines, a practice known in Nigeria as ...
Guantanamo Pressure increases
Apr 01, 2006; ... THE RELEASE OF A UNITED Nations (UN) report urging the US to either put Guantanamo Bay detainees on trial or release them; and criticism of the camp by government leaders such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel and even George Bush's most staunch supporter, British prime minister Tony Blair, who ...
Any storm in a port?
Apr 01, 2006; ... The deal that saw Dubai's DP World takeover P&O has aroused a storm of controversy in the United States. But it is not the only incidence of geo-political considerations impacting on trade and commerce in the Middle East. Stephen Williams reports WHEN THE MIDDLE EAST reported on the ...
Bleeding Iraq dry
Apr 01, 2006; ... Lured by immense profits, insurgents, corrupt officials and smugglers are stealing Iraq's oil and driving the country to ruin. By Ed Blanche ON THE NIGHT OF 16 JANUARY, AN Iraqi Coast Guard patrol spotted a group of men stealing oil from a pipeline near the port of Basra on the western ...
UNCLE SAM GOES TO LIBYA
Apr 01, 2006; ... Two years after Libya reached an historic agreement with the US to abandon its terrorist activities, trade between the two countries is finally picking up. Mutual interests may drive it much higher still. Josh Martin reports IN EARLY APRIL, A DELEGATION OF 20 American businessmen will ...
AUB profits up 54%
Apr 01, 2006; ... BRIEF Bahrain-based Ahli United Bank (AUB) has announced a net profit of $164.9m for the year ended 31 December 2005, an increase of 54.8% over the previous year. Its total operating income increased by 47.7% to $358.9m from $243m in 2004. The bank, in keeping with its strategy, ...
Water in dry lands
Apr 01, 2006; ... With rapidly growing populations, the countries of the Middle East know something must be done about the most precious of resources, water. But just how acute is the problem and what is being done to tackle it? Eamonn Gearon reports IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE the Middle East was ...
Full steam ahead for Egypt's ports programme
Apr 01, 2006; ... Egypt has already started to see the benefits of its ambitious ports programme but, say the experts, these vast schemes are set to revolutionise the country's trade with the rest of the world. Neil Ford reports INFRASTRUCTURAL INVESTMENT is often regarded as a necessary prerequisite for ...
Coming out of the woods?
Apr 01, 2006; ... Istanbul's crowded markets these days, long gone are the times when prices rose on an almost daily basis, while watching exchange rates was a national obsession on a par with watching lottery numbers. Jon Gorvett reports from Istanbul SINCE THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT took office in 2002, ...
Dubai growth beats China
Apr 01, 2006; ... Dubai's economy grew 16% last year and is expected to beat that of China, held to be one of the fastest-expanding economies in the world with a growth rate of 8.5%. The emirate's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is estimated to reach $37bn, according to its Department of Economic Development ...
UAE upscale & expensive
Apr 01, 2006; ... 'TAX-FREE FUN IN the sun'. 'The lifestyle you've always dreamed of.' 'Five star living at a three star price'. These are just a few of the promises made by companies trying to lure workers to the UAE. But is it all too good to be true? For the most part it is true, or at least it used to ...
THE HEJAZ RAILWAY
Apr 01, 2006; ... THE HEJAZ RAILWAY By James Nicholson published by Stacey International ISBN 1 900988 81 x price £25.00 hardback Winding its way from Damascus through the vast desert wastes of Jordan and into the spectacular barren mountains of northwest Saudi Arabia, a distance of more than 1,500km, the ...
Tunisia seizes the moment
Apr 01, 2006; ... Tunisia is committed to making the most of its natural resources and is paving the way for a number of renewable energy projects which look set to benefit both business and the environment. By Neil Ford TUNISIA HAS LONG HAD A reputation for making the most of its modest energy resources ....
Peace via the airwaves
Apr 01, 2006; ... Two initiatives have emerged in recent months to promote the Arab-Israeli peace process on air. An old pirate radio station transmitted from the Mediterranean has been revived on land and will broadcast for the first time in Arabic and Hebrew, while an Arab satellite TV network has agreed to ...
VICTIMS OF A MAP
Apr 01, 2006; ... VICTIMS OF A MAP By Adonis, Mahmud Darwish and Samih Al Qasim published by Saqi Books ISBN 0863565247 price £9.99 paperback Since pre-Islamic days poetry has been the mass art form of the Arabic language. Even in modern times, poets in the region have had a greater impact on ...
A dying language
Apr 01, 2006; ... VERY YEAR THOUSANDS of languages around the globe are lost, leaving only a few survivors in use. Long considered virtually extinct, the Coptic language is believed to exist only in the liturgical language of the Coptic Church in Egypt. Today, the ancient language that lost its prominence ...
Middle East destinations lead the field
Apr 01, 2006; ... Tourist travel to the Middle East is up and continues to rise. In this Special Report Rhona Wells looks at where the tourists are going and the multibillion dollar projects underway to ensure their enthusiasm for the region does not wane. IN 2005 INTERNATIONAL tourism sustained the ...
JORDAN: LIVING IN THE CROSSFIRE
Apr 01, 2006; ... JORDAN LIVING IN THE CROSSFIRE By Alan George published by Zed Books ISBN 1 84277 471 9 price £16.95 paperback Jordan has played a bigger role in Middle Eastern affairs than its size and economy might warrant, due to its huge Palestinian population, its strategic location between Israel, ...
PARADISE NOW
Apr 01, 2006; ... Hany Abu-Assad is making motion picture history with his low-budget film, Paradise Now, which took top awards at the Berlin and Toronto film festivals, won the Golden Globe for best foreign film and became the first ever Palestinian Oscar-nomination. Pat McDonnell Twair reports THE ...
DANCING IN THE NO-FLY ZONE: A WOMAN'S JOURNEY THROUGH IRAQ
Apr 01, 2006; ... DANCING IN THE NO-FLY ZONE A WOMAN'S JOURNEY THROUGH IRAQ By Hadani Ditmars published by Arris Books ISBN 1844370631 price £9.99 paperback When Hadani Ditmars first went to Iraq in 1997 for the New York Times, she was shocked at what she saw there. Six years of the worst sanctions ever ...
A lesson in diplomacy
Apr 01, 2006; ... THE LAST WORD Dubai, a small but economically ambitious member of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), showed itself to be more diplomatically mature than the United States Congress, and certainly smarter in international business and commerce by pulling out of the DPW drama. The ...
BASRA - THE FAILED GULF STATE: SEPARATISM AND NATIONALISM IN SOUTHERN IRAQ
Apr 01, 2006; ... BASRA - THE FAILED GULF STATE SEPARATISM AND NATIONALISM IN SOUTHERN IRAQ By Reidar Visser published by LIT ISBN 3 8258 8799 5 price euro29.90 paperback This book is driven by a single question: why did the oppressed population of oilrich Southern Iraq refrain from separatist activities ...
WOMEN AND MEDIA IN THE MIDDLE EAST: POWER THROUGH SELF-EXPRESSION
Apr 01, 2006; ... WOMEN AND MEDIA IN THE MIDDLE EAST POWER THROUGH SELF-EXPRESSION Edited by Naomi Sakr published by IB Tauris ISBN 1 85043 545 6 price £15.99 paperback Is today's changing media landscape in the Middle East empowering women? This is the first book to address the dynamics of media ecology ...
Yusra and Hannan Turk return to romance.(Movie review)(Brief article)
Apr 02, 2006 ... The new film "Kalam Fil Hub" (Love Talk) starring prominent Egyptian actors Yusra, Hannan Turk, and Hisham Salim is a return to old fashioned Egyptians romance films. Director Ali Idrees stated that he is waiting for the right moment to screen the film, after the movie season ...
Ehab Tawfiq acts with his own money.(new music video for the song Hubbak Alamni)(Brief article)
Apr 02, 2006 ... Egyptian singer Ehab Tawfiq has received numerous offers from different cinema production companies, but has announced that he intends on financing the production of his first film so that he may create the work exactly as he likes. According to the London based weekly, Laha, ...
Elham Shahin furious.(Brief article)
Apr 02, 2006 ... Prominent Egyptian actor Elham Shahin is furious with host of the Lebanese program "Khaleek Bil Bait" (Stay at Home), Zahi Wahbi for igniting the flames between her and actor Nadia Al Jundi. Zahi prompted Nadia to make insulting remarks toward Elham while appearing as guest on ...
Yusra learns to dance Salsa.(upcoming role in the film Tiji Nur'us)(Movie review)(Brief article)
Apr 02, 2006 ... Prominent Egyptian actress Yusra has been taking Salsa lessons to prepare for her upcoming role in the film "Tiji Nur'us" (Lets Dance), directed by the controversial Enas Al Dughaidi. Yusra plays the role of a lawyer for a major firm who realizes that life is just passing by, ...
Tamer Husni asks for his fan's prayers.(Husni, Tamer)(Brief article)
Apr 02, 2006 ... Egyptian singer Tamer Husni will be compelled to fulfill his one month sentence in jail and then stand trial at a military court. The singer has asked his fans to pray for him, and for God to alleviate his crisis. According to the London based daily, Al Sharq Al Awsat, Tamer ...
Bahrain: Listed companies posted average 35.2% growth.(growth of Bahrain Stock Exchange)(Brief article)
Apr 02, 2006 ... Data recently released by the Bahrain Stock Exchange has shown 35.2% growth of net profits posted in 2005 by the Bahraini Public Shareholding companies listed on BSE in comparison to 2004's net profits, as it increased form BD 282.63 million in 2004 to BD 517.48 million in 2005. ...
Etihad Airways' New Fleet Expansion Continues.(latest Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A330-200 aircraft )
Apr 02, 2006 ... Etihad Airways' new fleet of aircraft continue to arrive, with the latest Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A330-200 aircraft touching down in Abu Dhabi International Airport in the last few days. The new arrivals represent the fourth and fifth aircraft in Etihad's new fleet of 29 ...
British University in Dubai Unveils Expanded Range of Scholarships for Masters Programmes.(reports of scholarships)
Apr 02, 2006 ... The British University in Dubai, one of the region's foremost research-based institutions, has unveiled a diverse range of scholarships for students beginning Masters programmes in September 2006 aiming to encourage qualified graduates to consider pursuing higher education and extend ...
HP: Education is the Key to Entrepreneurship.(SAFAD Engineering and Electronics Ltd)
Apr 02, 2006 ... Since 1957, HP has shared its inventive spirit, industry leadership and talented workforce, with the communities in which it operates worldwide. As part of this commitment, HP is a key supporter of the World Summit on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, being held today in Muscat. During the ...
Visa Jordan receives Hypercom award for excellence and leadership.(award for Visa Jordan Co.)
Apr 02, 2006 ... Will Keiper, President and CEO of Hypercom (NYSE: HYC) recently completed a two-day visit to Jordan during his regional tour of the Middle East. The tour was coordinated by Hypercom's regional partner and distributor, STS (Specialized Technical Services) Co. STS and Hypercom are currently ...
Fastlink Mobile Clinic for Children to provide free dental treatment and other health services in remote areas.(Fastlink's Mobile Clinic for Children service introduction)
Apr 02, 2006 ... Fastlink, one of MTC group companies, announced today it will provide dental treatment services in its Mobile Clinic for Children; the first mobile clinic in the kingdom that was launched in 2002. It aims to provide medical treatment for unprivileged children in the poor rural areas of the ...
STME gears up to target growing regional banking sector through its participation in FT Summit & Exhibition 2006.
Apr 02, 2006 ... STME, the Middle East's leading enterprise storage solution provider and integrator, has announced its participation in the Financial Technology Summit & Exhibition - Middle East, the exclusive event for IT decision makers of the financial sector in the region, which will be held from ...
Borouge joins PE100+ Association with qualification of pipe grade Borstar[R] HE3490-LS.(Borouge's parent company)
Apr 02, 2006 ... Borouge is now an official member of the PE100+ Association, an industry organisation comprising polyethylene (PE) manufacturers, of which Borealis, Borouge's parent company, is also a member. Borouge's Borstar[R] HE3490-LS (black) pipe grade, manufactured in Ruwais (UAE) passed the second ...
Fourth International Forum on Investing in Technology champions sustainable technology-driven growth.
Apr 02, 2006 ... Arab Science and Technology Foundation (ASTF), a UAE based, independent, non-governmental and non-profit organisation established to promote the development of science, technology and entrepreneurship in the Arab world, is gearing up for the "Fourth International Forum on Investing in ...
RAK Properties to showcase "Julfar Towers" in Abu Dhabi & Kuwait exhibitions.(real estate property development exhibitions)
Apr 02, 2006 ... Following the successful launch of "Julfar Towers", RAK Properties (PJSC), the premier real estate development company of Ras Al Khaimah, will showcase its project in two of the major real estate and property development exhibitions in the GCC region.Their first participation will be at ...
Dream prizes, draws and contests await visitors to The Bride Show Dubai 2006.(Dubai International Exhibition Centre)
Apr 02, 2006 ... Organisers and exhibitors have lined up fabulous prizes, exciting competitions and grand draws for visitors at the Middle East's largest wedding show, The Bride Show Dubai 2006 that kicks off at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre on April 4. Charlotte Proudman, Event ...
Mallat, Yake and Nikolai dominate Dubai Autodrome Motor Sport Club Raceday 4.(Gulfsport Radical Cup)
Apr 02, 2006 ... The Dubai Autodrome Motor Sport Club Raceday 4 went underway this Friday, March 31 involving three championships, each consisting of two races for the Toyo GTI Cup and the Gulfsport Radical Cup while the UAE National Superstock Bike Championship saw three races as one was cancelled during ...
Bonyan International Investment Group Announces Participation at Arabian Properties Exhibition.
Apr 02, 2006 ... Bonyan International Investment Group, one of the leading real estate companies of Dubai has announced its participation at Arabian Properties Exhibition, taking place at the Abu Dhabi International Exhibition Centre from 2nd to 5th April 2006. The Dubai based property developer will be ...
Jordan Aerospace Industry to move to Al Mushatta Industrial Estate.(Investors and Eastern Arab for Industrial and Real Estate Investment Co)
Apr 02, 2006 ... Investors and Eastern Arab for Industrial and Real Estate Investment Co. P.L.C (IEAI) has signed an agreement with Jordan Aerospace Industry (JAI) which will be the first major organization to move their premises to the new Al Mushatta Industrial Park. Signing on behalf of Al Mushatta was ...
Global Investment House - Kuwait Stock Exchange Performance.
Apr 02, 2006 ... The selling spree in the Kuwaiti market continued during the month of March. Even the excellent 2005 corporate earnings numbers and the prevailing high oil prices could not save the market tumbling for the second consecutive month as investors engaged in heavy profit booking. The benchmark ...
du Allotment Letters and Refunds on April 3 - Public Offering Sets World Record in Terms of Amount Raised.
Apr 02, 2006 ... Allotment of shares in Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du)'s Dh2.4 billion public offering has been finalized, announced leading investment bank EFG-Hermes. EFG-Hermes, the Global Coordinator and Financial Advisor of the deal, Emirates Bank the Lead Manager and First Gulf ...
Moody's upgrades NBK's long-term foreign currency deposit rating.(Brief article)
Apr 02, 2006 ... Moody's Investors Service has changed the outlook on the A2 long-term foreign currency deposit rating of National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) to positive from stable.This action follows Moody's change of Kuwait's sovereign ratings outlook to positive earlier this year, in light of the further ...
Land transactions in Dubai reported.(Land Department)(Brief article)
Apr 02, 2006 ... The total value of land transactions in Dubai last week peaked at Dhs620.48 millions , of which sales exceeded Dhs390 million. The total value of mortgages during the period was Dhs230.66 million, according to the Land Department. A total of 49 sale transactions were registered ...
US cites recommendations regarding FTA with Kuwait.
Apr 02, 2006 ... An annual reports released by the US Congress on Friday revealed that intellectual property rights remain a sticking point in progress towards a Free Trade Agreement between Kuwait and the US. Despite citing lax copyright laws which must be improved in order to push forward with ...
BM Shipping Group to establish a presence at Dubai Maritime City.(Italian shipping company)
Apr 02, 2006 ... Reinforcing Dubai's reputation as a leading maritime destination, BM Shipping Group s.p.a, the leading Italian shipping company, will be establishing a presence at Dubai Maritime City, the world's most comprehensive maritime complex located on a 216-hectare man-made peninsula between Port ...
US hardwood exports to UAE touch USD 7.8 million.
Apr 02, 2006 ... Dubai Woodshow 2006, the dedicated wood and wood machinery exhibition in the Middle East, will feature an extensive American line-up, headlined by the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the foremost international trade association for the US hardwood industry. With the UAE becoming ...
Emirates Islamic Bank launches Manzili.
Apr 02, 2006 ... Emirates Islamic Bank recently launched Manzili Home Finance, a complete and comprehensive package that caters to customers' needs in property ownership or finance.Manzili Home Finance offers three unique solutions: Manzili SmartHome, Manzili HomeLease and Manzili HomeInvest, each one ...
Exclusive Middle East distributor of top motor sport brands kicks off expansion plans.
Apr 02, 2006 ... Quartermile, the Dubai-based exclusive Middle East distributor of prestigious motor brands like Hamann Motorsport, Kahn Performance Products and Accessories, and Formula 1 Racewear, unveiled its concept showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road. Touted as Dubai's first car spa, Quartermile offers car ...
JORDANIAN NGO TURNS TO DOMOTEX FOR REGIONAL NETWORK BREAKTHROUGH RIVER FOUNDATION LOOKS NEARER HOME FOR NEW MARKETS.
Apr 02, 2006 ... The Jordan River Foundation (JRF), an Amman-headquartered non-governmental organization which is behind social projects, including carpet weaving, to bring income to the poorest areas of the Kingdom, is looking to build a commercial network in the Arabian Gulf launching the campaign at the ...
Kinnarps Cup Polo Tournament Commences Five-Day Program Today.
Apr 02, 2006 ... Kinnarps of Sweden today announced its team player line-up for the Kinnarps Cup 2006 which begins today and finishes with the gripping grand final on 6 April, 2006 at the exclusive Desert Palm Polo Club. Growing from a four team event last year to a five team tournament in 2006, ...
FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY SUMMIT OPENS TODAY.
Apr 02, 2006 ... More than 300 regional delegates are gathered at the 2nd Financial Technology Summit and Exhibition which opened today (Sunday, 2nd April 06) and will run until Tuesday 4th April at the JW Marriott Hotel in Dubai. The organisers of the event, Dubai-based World Development Forum (WDF), have ...
HP Expands Computing Choices for Business Customers in the Middle East.(computing technology)(Hewlett-Packard Co.)
Apr 02, 2006 ... HP Middle East Sunday celebrates more than a decade of providing unmatched variety, quality and value in computing technology with the introduction of new AMD processor-based products for business customers. During an event at the Dubai Autodrome, HP introduced its first AMD ...