Middle East back issues from June 2006:
All change at Westminster but who benefits?
Jun 01, 2006; ... Only weeks after British Prime Minister Tony Blair set out his strategy to confront threats from Islamic extremism, he faced the most difficult period of his nine-year premiership, following a battering by English voters in local councils elections on 4 May, as Adel Darwish reports AS ...
EDITORIAL COMMENT
Jun 01, 2006; ... An overture towards the cessation of hostilities or an opportunistic ploy to delay the inevitable showdown? Either way Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad managed to put the cat among the pigeons last month with his letter to US President George W. Bush The letter from Ahmadinejad was ...
Tunisia: High hopes for the World Cup
Jun 01, 2006; ... WITH THE CURTAIN BEING raised on 9 June in Munich, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia and Iran have all qualified to represent the region on the big stage. Of the three, the Tunisians can be expected to put in a solid challenge under former France coach Roger Lemerre. As for the Saudis - one country where ...
Iran oil: on the up and up
Jun 01, 2006; ... A big boost to Iranian oil production will come from the development of the Azadegan field and, according to Foreign Minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, everything is in place for development to begin, as Neil Ford reports. MUCH HAS BEEN SAID and written about the unattractive nature of the ...
Dubai drinks more dairy
Jun 01, 2006; ... The Dubai dairy trade grew 33% last year from $258m to $327m, (AED 95Om to AED l.2bn) according to the Dubai Ports, Customs and Free Zone. Total imports increased 32.2% from S218m to $272m last year, while exports rose 168% to $20.7m, from $7.62m The increase was put down to a ...
$11.2bn community planned for Jeddah
Jun 01, 2006; ... An $11.2bn, 2,286-hectare community is to be built in Saudi Arabia's port city of Jeddah, with nearly 20,000 residential units, commercial and retail facilities. The development will be built by a joint venture between UAE-based Emaar Properties, which is already involved in the $26.6bn ...
Better the president you know?
Jun 01, 2006; ... Yemen elections Presidential elections are due to take place in Yemen this September. While President Ali Abdullah Saleh has declared that he will not be running for re-election, and his party is threatening to boycott the process if he does not, is there any viable alternative currently ...
Match of the day?
Jun 01, 2006; ... In the not too distant past a catchy jingle on a crackling radio ad and some good old-fashioned word of mouth was the best way to promote a company. Today however, exposure, brand awareness and marketability are the corporate watchwords of the moment as firms from Argentina to Zambia and ...
Gulf money capitals take off
Jun 01, 2006; ... Standard Chartered The race to become the Middle East's leading financial capital is on, writes Rhys Jones. DUBAI AND QATAR compete on many fronts. Emirates Airline and Qatar Airways would happily slug it out for the title of the world's fastest growing carrier, while Qatar's ...
The carve-up continues
Jun 01, 2006; ... Sally FitzHarris travelled to the Occupied Territories to see how construction of the Separation Wall is progressing, and spoke to some of the people most directly affected. A FOUR-METRE-SQUARE concrete shack clings to a hillside. Behind it, a Palestinian flag flutters among olive trees ....
Yemen talks the talk
Jun 01, 2006; ... Sana'a is under growing western scrutiny after a mass prison breakout by Al Qaeda veterans who may have had official help, writes Ed Blanche. YEMEN'S GOVERNMENT AND more especially its intelligence services, are falling over themselves these days to demonstrate their commitment to the ...
In Salah paves the way
Jun 01, 2006; ... A gas project in a remote district of Algeria's Sahara desert is pioneering technology that can be applied to radically cut the world's CO2 emissions. Stephen Williams reports WHEN MORE THAN two dozen world energy ministers joined industry leaders, financiers, diplomats and ...
Saudi Arabia records strongest economic growth in decades
Jun 01, 2006; ... BURGEONING MONEY AND CREDIT GROWTH HAVE FUELLED THE ASSET MARKETS SAUDI ARABIA, the OPEC lynchpin and the world's top oil exporter, is enjoying its strongest growth in decades. More importantly, the kingdom's robust expansion is being led by the private sector. This contrasts ...
REGIONAL POLITICS IN THE GULF: SAUDI ARABIA, OMAN, YEMEN
Jun 01, 2006; ... REGIONAL POLITICS IN THE GULF: SAUDI ARABIA, OMAN, YEMEN By Elham Manea published by Saqi Books ISBN O 86356 583 2 price £35.00 hardback The three major neighbouring states of the Arabian Peninsula - Saudi Arabia, Oman and Yemen - make for strange bedfellows. They are governed by three ...
Veil
Jun 01, 2006; ... The veil has long been the subject of much controversy, seen as a symbol of subservience in some quarters, while a sign of autonomy in others. The academic and author of the revolutionary book Veil, now in its third printing, Egyptian-born Fadwa El Guindi talked to Pat McDonnell ...
Out of the shadows?
Jun 01, 2006; ... Abu Musab Al Zarqawi, often described as Iraq's most notorious insurgent, was assumed by many usually well-informed observers to be dead. However, recent video evidence shows him - or somebody closely resembling him - to be very much alive, as Richard Seymour reports. THE CIA DOES not ...
My name is Rachel Corrie
Jun 01, 2006; ... IN LONDON, IN MAY, a play opened in London's West End. My Name is Rachel Carrie tells the story of the 23-year-old American peace activist crushed to death three years ago by an Israeli soldier driving a bulldozer in Gaza. Rachel was trying to protect Palestinian homes. The man driving the ...
Ankara steps up military action
Jun 01, 2006; ... Recent weeks have seen an escalation of violence as Ankara anticipates a major new offensive by separatist guerillas of the PKK. By Jonathan Gorvett WITH TURKISH TROOPS massing, Iranian forces infiltrating and shelling, and the US top foreign policy official in Ankara, last month ...
A Yemeni woman's fight for freedom
Jun 01, 2006; ... A Yemeni woman's fight for freedom NOTHING AT FIRST SIGHT BETRAYS THE STRONG WILL AND BRAVERY THAT LIE BEHIND THE SMILE AND GENTLE MANNERS OF KHADIJA AL SALAMI, THE SOFTLY-SPOKEN CULTURAL COUNSELLOR AT THE YEMENI EMBASSY IN PARIS. BUT MS AL SALAMI'S STORY IS AN UNUSUAL AND INSPIRING ONE, ...
WE ARE IRAN
Jun 01, 2006; ... WE ARE IRAN By Nasrin Alavi published by Portobello Books ISBN 1 84627 001 4 price £12.99 paperback We Are Iran is a multi-voiced portrait of contemporary Iran; a glimpse of the obsessions and frustrations that exist behind the imposed cliché of the black chador; ideas and passions that ...
Syria boosts tourism
Jun 01, 2006; ... Syria hopes to double annual tourism revenue to five billion dollars by 2010 and attract more than seven million tourists, up from three million in 2004 when tourist revenue was $2.2bn. Arabs account for 74% of the total number of tourists. Prior to 11 September 2001, Syria attracted four ...
Emirates links with Marriott for World Cup promo
Jun 01, 2006; ... Emirates Airline is teaming up with hotel chain Marriott International on promotional activities for the 2006 football World Cup which starts on 9 June. The airline has made 230 match tickets available to support the various activities, which include online quizzes on Marriott's websites in the ...
ARAB MARKETS BECKON FOREIGN PLAYERS
Jun 01, 2006; ... Arab stock markets are hoping their past record of rapid growth, plus more transparent trading regimes will attract major western institutional investors. Are pensions and insurance companies ready? Josh Martin reports. THIS HAS BEEN a spring of discontent for investors in the stock ...
MANDATED LANDSCAPE: BRITISH IMPERIAL RULE IN PALESTINE 1929-1948
Jun 01, 2006; ... MANDATED LANDSCAPE BRITISH IMPERIAL RULE IN PALESTINE 1929-1948 By Roza LM. El Eini published by Routledge ISBN 07146 54264 price £80.00 In this authoritative study, a highly documented and incisive analysis is made of the galvanising changes wrought to the people and landscape of ...
25th Istanbul Film Festival
Jun 01, 2006; ... After a quarter century of bringing the finest of world cinema to Turkey, the Istanbul Film Festival in April was in both reflective and celebratory mood, writes N. Buket Cengiz. THE MUSLIM WORLD'S largest and most successful movie festival also marked its 25th year by hosting some of ...
Shireen Seif refuses to forgive and forget.(Shireen Seif Nasr sues belly dancer Fifi Abdo )(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Egyptian actress Shireen Seif Nasr has refused to make amends with belly dancer Fifi Abdo and will not drop the charges against her. Shireen asserted that she will not forgive Fifi for badmouthing her on live television and embarrassing her. Shireen filed a lawsuit ...
Razan' first music video.(Razan Moughrabi signs for her music album)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Lebanese television broadcaster and actress Razan Moughrabi is preparing to film her first music video under Egyptian production company 'Alam El Phan,' who will also produce her first album. Razan revealed that she has chosen to film a video for the song "Lao Albi Da" (If my ...
Saudi-based Savola Group launches new Hyperpanda in Dubai festival city.(Savola Group)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Saudi-based Savola Group, one of the largest diversified groups in the Middle East, recently announced the UAE launch of HyperPanda, its mammoth 175,000 square foot hypermarket located at Dubai Festival City. Managed and operated by Savola Retail division, HyperPanda boasts an extensive ...
Positive outlook on the Saudi cement sector.(Yanbu Cement Co.)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Global Investment House -- Yanbu Cement Company Equity Research update - The sales revenue of Yanbu Cement Co (YCC) for the year 2005 increased only by 0.6% to SR778.9mn from SR774.6mn reported in 2004. The was mainly due to the decline in the production of clinker which for the year 2005 ...
Moody's: Sukuk issuance poised for increasingly rapid growth.(Moody's Investor Service)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The past five years have seen a rapid surge in the issuance of Sukuk securities, sometimes known as Islamic bonds, across Asia and the Middle East, Moody's Investors Service says in a new Special Comment on the topics Shari'ah and Sukuk finance. Although the global market is relatively ...
Emaar announces new developments in Pakistan.(Emaar Properties)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Emaar Properties, the leading property developer, has announced three real estate developments in the cities of Islamabad and Karachi in Pakistan. The projects, with a total investment of AED 8.8 billion (US$2.4 billion), will include a series of master planned communities that will set ...
Emaar launches Best Garden Competition.(Emaar Properties)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Emaar Properties has recently announced the launch of the 'Best Garden Competition' whereby residents throughout Emaar's communities can nominate their garden, terrace or balcony as part of the competition. With entries due before June 15, residents will be seen pruning their ...
Etihad Airways Launches Casablanca Tomorrow.(sevice introduction)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Etihad Airways launches four-flights-a-week services between Abu Dhabi and Casablanca tomorrow. Etihad is operating its new state-of-the-art, two-zone Airbus A330-200 on its 32nd route, which is configured to carry 22 Guests in Pearl and 240 Guests in Coral zone. The ...
PCFC REWARDS SUGGESTION AND REWARDS SCHEME FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO BUSINESS.(Ports Customs and Free Zone Corporation)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Ports Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), held an inaugural awards ceremony on Monday afternoon to honor the outstanding contribution of staff and administrative systems to business advancement. The Awards, held at the Godolphin Ballroom of Emirates Towers Hotel were ...
NISSAN CONTRIBUTES 10 MLN YEN TO INDONESIA EARTHQUAKE RELIEF.(Nissan Motor Company Ltd.)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., has pledged 10 million yen to help disaster relief efforts in Indonesia following the massive earthquake on Java Island on May 27.The money has been donated to The Japan Platform, a non-profit organization ...
HP Builds Leadership in High-Growth Mobility Marketplace.(Hewlett-Packard Co.)
Jun 01, 2006 ... HP today strengthened its mobile leadership, with the introduction of more than a dozen new products that will make it easier for businesses and consumers in the Middle East to achieve the goal of always-on, always-ready mobile computing. The company also unveiled its new ...
Land Rover Enjoys Successful Britain in Kuwait Exhibition.(BL PLC. Land Rover)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... The Britain in Kuwait Exhibition held in Kuwait from 20th to 22nd May was highlighted by the strong presence of top British companies including Land Rover, the luxury 4x4 manufacturer. The annual event was held under the patronage of HH the Prime Minister of Kuwait, Sheikh ...
HP Builds Leadership in High-Growth Mobility Marketplace.(Hewlett-Packard Co. launches products in Middle East)
Jun 01, 2006 ... HP today strengthened its mobile leadership, with the introduction of more than a dozen new products that will make it easier for businesses and consumers in the Middle East to achieve the goal of always-on, always-ready mobile computing. The company also unveiled its new ...
BIBF CELEBRATES SILVER JUBILEE!(Bahrain Institute of Banking & Finance)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Bahrain Institute of Banking & Finance (BIBF), one of Bahrain's and the region's, leading professional training Institutes, held their 25th anniversary celebration yesterday evening, under the patronage of H.E. Rasheed Al Maraj, Governor of the Bahrain Monetary Agency, and Chairman of the ...
Burnett Names Chehab as Chief Creative Officer for Central, Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa.(Leo Burnett Ltd. promotes Farid Chehab)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Leo Burnett's European leadership today announced the promotion of Farid Chehab to the newly created role of chief creative officer for the CEEMEA region. Chehab, the co-founder, current Chairman and CCO of Leo Burnett in the Middle East/Africa region, will now work in ...
Free Vacations for Children from British Airways Holidays.(marketing strategies)
Jun 01, 2006 ... This summer British Airways Holidays is offering a chance for families to save money when they travel to exclusive British Airways online destinations in the UK, Europe, Canada and the USA. The offer enables two adults to travel to a destination of their choice from the ba.com list and ...
National Bonds Corporation's second draw to be held at 9 pm and aired live by Sama Dubai TV Due to public demand.
Jun 01, 2006 ... National Bonds Corporation (NBC) today announced that due to popular demand the second National Bonds draw will be held at 9.00pm on Saturday 3rd June and aired live on Sama Dubai TV. The decision follows last month's successful debut National Bonds draw which generated increased interest ...
The Palestinian economy: Caught between Hamas and the West.(Palestinians protests Hamas (Islamic Resistance Movement)'s policy)
Jun 01, 2006 ... A massive demonstration was staged in the Gaza Strip on Monday by hundreds of Palestinians who had once worked in Israel and were now protesting the Hamas policy denying them the right to return to Israel's lucrative market. Monday's rally was one in a series of labor protests ...
Nicole Saba owes it all to Adel Imam.(Nicole Saba speaks about her acting in 'Al Tajruba Al Dimarkieh')(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Lebanese singer/actress Nicole Saba recently appeared as a guest on "Saot Al Ghad" (The Voice of Tomorrow) radio station, on the program "Winta Imrawah" (On Your Way Home) during a visit to Jordan. During the program, hosted by Mazen Diab, Nicole talked openly and honestly ...
Nawal Al Zoughbi has no time to waste.(new album to be launched by Alam El Phan)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Production Company 'Alam El Phan' has begun airing portions of Nawal Al Zoughbi's new album, launching a promotional campaign for the album scheduled for release in June. Nawal has placed the final touches on the album, and has been photographed for the cover. ...
Trend Micro enhances Linux security with ServerProtect.(launch of Trend Micro ServerProtect for Linux)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Trend Micro, Inc. (TSE: 4704, NASDAQ: TMIC), a leader in network antivirus and Internet content security software and services, has announced a solution, the Trend Micro ServerProtect for Linux(tm), that provides highly scalable and real-time protection for internal and external endpoints ....
Online Distribution and SafeNet showcases security expertise in Saudi Arabia.(SafeNet Inc.)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Leading value added networking distributor, Online Distribution, and SafeNet Inc, (NASDAQ: SFNT), a leading network and information security products and solutions vendor, presented the latest solutions to deliver secure access, authorization and authentication to networks, applications, ...
Evory Lounge Captures Dubai's Fancy.(hotel launch)(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... From concept hotels to concept stores, the market abounds with establishments that thrive not only because of their products and services, but also because of the concepts on which they are built. Now comes Evory Lounge, the latest and most unique addition to the growing world-class ...
EMS to exhibit its portfolio of energy-efficient solutions in FM expo 2006.(Energy Management Services )
Jun 01, 2006 ... Energy Management Services (EMS), the Middle East's leading energy management and conservation company, has announced its participation in the Facilities Management expo 2006, the dedicated facility management exhibition in the UAE, organized by Streamline Marketing Group and dmg world ...
Conject brings innovative Project Management solution to the Middle East.(Conject International launches conject Project Management)
Jun 01, 2006 ... conject International, the Dubai-based office of conject, Europe's leading provider of Infrastructure Lifecycle Management (ILM) solutions has brought its innovative Internet-based conject Project Management solution to the Middle East. Available in nine languages including ...
Be part of The Da Vinci Code adventure with Sony Ericsson.(Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB offers movie content with its Sony Ericsson K750i mobile phone in United Arab Emirates)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Sony Ericsson's K750i, The Da Vinci Code special pack, is now available in all Sony Ericsson dealers throughout the UAE. The cool pack contains a Sony Ericsson K750i with free preloaded The Da Vinci Code content, wallpapers, themes, ring-tones, plus an exclusive The Da Vinci Code ...
31st May: a rendez-vous for gourmets with ' Aperitif a la francaise ' !
Jun 01, 2006 ... This French tradition is back again in Dubai on the 31st May for a second edition of ' Aperitif a la francaise ' organised by Sopexa, the French Ministry for Agriculture, and the French food and beverage industry, and under the patronage of His Excellence Patrice Paoli, French Ambassador ...
Ehab Tawfiq in a wreck.(Brief article)
Jun 01, 2006 ... Egyptian singer Ehab Tawfiq had to cancel a live interview with radio station "Saot Al Ghad" (The Voice of Tomorrow) at the last minute. According to the London based Elaph, Ehab's manager said that the singer was in a car accident and requested the interview be rescheduled ....
Arcelor raises interest in Morocco steelmaker Sonasid in association with SNI and local partners.
Jun 03, 2006 ... Arcelor, Societe Nationale d'Investissement (SNI, Morocco) and the other main shareholders of Sonasid (Societe Nationale de Siderurgie) including MAMDA-MCMA, Axa Assurances Maroc, RMA-Watanya, CIMR and Attijariwafa bank have transferred their interests in Sonasid to an ad hoc holding ...
Israeli Occupation forces ban Saber Riba'ee from Palestine.(Brief article)
Jun 04, 2006 ... Israeli officials have decided to forbid Tunisian singer Saber Riba'ee from entering Palestine to hold a concert in the city of Ariha, which recently came under control of the Palestinian authority. According to the London based Elaph, the singer was scheduled to hold a number ...
Razan' first music video.(Brief article)
Jun 04, 2006 ... Lebanese television broadcaster and actress Razan Moughrabi is preparing to film her first music video under Egyptian production company 'Alam El Phan,' who will also produce her first album. Razan revealed that she has chosen to film a video for the song "Lao Albi Da" (If my ...
An Egyptian surprise for Saber Ribaee.(Saber Ribaee's surprise birthday party given by his friends)(Brief article)
Jun 04, 2006 ... Friends of Tunisian singer Saber Ribaee held a surprise birthday party for him in Egypt, where he was visiting to record songs for his upcoming album. Saber was shocked with the large number of artists, composers, and close friends that attended the celebration. According to the ...
Yusra refuses to wait for the director.
Jun 04, 2006 ... Prominent Egyptian actor Yusra stated that she will not wait for Jamal Abdul Hamid to direct her upcoming television drama "Mawjit Abeer," since he is preoccupied with his work on the new television drama "Halim." Yusa wants her drama to be aired during the holy month of Ramadan and has ...
A variety of Samira Saeed.(singer has completed recording for the up coming album )(Brief article)
Jun 04, 2006 ... Moroccan diva Samira Saeed has completed recording a collection of new songs for her upcoming album, scheduled for release this summer season. According to the London based Elaph, the songs are sung in a variety of dialects, including Lebanese, Gulf, and Egyptian. ...
Haifa Wahbi and Alissa dressed alike.(Brief article)
Jun 04, 2006 ... Wearing the latest trends in fashion for Lebanese singers Haifa Wahbi and Alissa is one of their main concerns, leading them to wear the exact same dress but on different occasions. Recently, Alissa attended an event in Egypt for the cellular phone company Voda Phone in which ...
Haifa Wahbi denies intent to wear a Hijab.(Brief article)
Jun 04, 2006 ... Lebanese singer Haifa Wahbi was recently honored by the International Union in charge of the 'Miss Lebanon' beauty pageant. Haifa was presented an award for her drive to succeed from the moment she launched her career, and for her extraordinary beauty. According to the Qatar ...
Shireen finally engaged.(singer Shireen Abdul Wahab has gotten engaged to Libyan musician Ahmad Ghazali)(Brief article)
Jun 04, 2006 ... Egyptian singer Shireen Abdul Wahab has gotten engaged to Libyan musician Ahmad Ghazali, making their life long commitment away from the spotlight. According to the UAE based daily, Al Bayan, Shireen initially denied her intimate relationship with Ahmad, stating that she and ...
Nicole Saba owes it all to Adel Imam.(Brief article)
Jun 04, 2006 ... Lebanese singer/actress Nicole Saba recently appeared as a guest on "Saot Al Ghad" (The Voice of Tomorrow) radio station, on the program "Winta Imrawah" (On Your Way Home) during a visit to Jordan. During the program, hosted by Mazen Diab, Nicole talked openly and honestly ...
Ehab Tawfiq in a wreck.(Ehab Tawfiq could not attend the interview with radio)(Brief article)
Jun 04, 2006 ... Egyptian singer Ehab Tawfiq had to cancel a live interview with radio station "Saot Al Ghad" (The Voice of Tomorrow) at the last minute. According to the London based Elaph, Ehab's manager said that the singer was in a car accident and requested the interview be rescheduled ....
Ruby becomes a swimsuit model.(singer signed a contract with an italian company)(Brief article)
Jun 04, 2006 ... After succeeding in her singing career and entering the acting world, controversial Egyptian singer Ruby has decided to encounter a new experience, which is in the world of fashion. The singer has signed a contract with an Italian company that specializes in making swimsuits. ...