UAE Coach Bathenay s Future in Doubt (Khaleej Times)
DUBAI – The UAE Football chief Mohammed Khalfan Al Rumaithi declined to confirm the news regarding the termination of head coach Dominique Bathenay, but he didn t rule out such a possibility after their 2010 World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia, to be played in Riyadh on Wednesday.
Bahrain seeks to exploit the downturn
The island’s financial sector intends to benefit from the woes of some of its Arab rivals as they suffer from the effects of the credit crunch and global downturn
Yemen extradites 5 wanted men to Saudi Arabia, including al-Qaida member (People’s Daily)
The Saudi security authorities said Monday that Yemen has extradited five wanted men to Riyadh, including an al-Qaida member. Local media quoted Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman Mansour al-Turki as saying that the five suspects were extradited to the kingdom on Saturday in line with security cooperation agreements between the two countries. He said the suspects were undergoing medical checkups …
Far right surge alarms Israeli Arabs
As Israel prepares for a rightwing government, leaders of the Palestinian community, who account for almost 20 per cent of the population, say they are more worried than ever before
League rejects warrant for Bashir
Arab leaders rejected an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Sudan’s president who is accused of masterminding war crimes in conflict-ridden Darfur
Israeli foreign minister faces Egypt snub
Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the far-right Yisrael Beiteinu party, sparked outrage in Cairo last year when he lashed out at Hosni Mubarak, telling the president to ‘go to hell’
Saudi prince’s elevation ends guessing game
Prince Naif, the 74-year-old interior minister, has been elevated to third place in line for the throne. A dissenting voice, however, has come from within the al-Saud royal family
Sunni unrest challenges Iraqi government
Iraqi soldiers backed by US troops and combat helicopters swept into a central Baghdad neighbourhood, arresting US-allied Sunni fighters to clamp down on a violent two-day uprising
Prince Naif appointed deputy Saudi PM
Appointment of 74-year-old Prince Naif, who has been the kingdom’s interior minister for more than 30 years and is seen as a conservative, will allay fears of a succession crisis
Deluge of Gulf bonds promises market boost
Fundraising plans by governments, primarily to finance development projects, could provide the impetus to create a much needed corporate bond market for the region
INTERVIEW – Iraq aims to buy 18 F-16 fighters in ’09 (The Star)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Iraq wants to buy an initial squadron of Lockheed Martin Corp F-16 fighter aircraft this year to help guard against perceived threats from Iran and Syria after U.S. forces leave, the head of the Iraqi Air Force told Reuters on Tuesday.
Iran opposition outraged at Iraq resettlement plan (Middle East Times)
An Iranian boy waves his country’s flag during a gathering of opposition People Mujahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) at Ashraf Camp near Baquba, northeast of Baghdad in 2006. The PMOI, which has long taken refuge in Iraq, has reacted angrily to plans by Baghdad to resettle their militants if they do not leave the country voluntarily.
Dubai outlines plan to escape doldrums
First half of a $20bn UAE central bank bond programme aims to help the emirate’s corporate giants pay off roughly $75bn debt and meet commitments, especially in the real estate sector
Iran Still Poses Significant Challenge to Iraq, Pentagon Says (Bloomberg)
March 31 (Bloomberg) — Iran continues to pose a significant challenge to Iraq s long-term stability and political independence, the Pentagon said.
Yemen extradites wanted militants to Saudi (Middle East Times)
Yemeni policemen search vehicles at a checkpoint in Sanaa, 2007. Yemen has handed over to Saudi Arabia five men whose names appeared on a list of 85 militants wanted by the kingdom for involvement in attacks.
Iraq to relocate Iranian group (The World)
BAGHDAD (AP) – Iraq plans to move members of an Iranian opposition group from a camp north of Baghdad to remote areas elsewhere in the country as it steps up efforts to rid itself of a major source of tension with Tehran, a top government official said Friday.
More than 200 feared drowned off Libya
More than 200 people are feared to have drowned after an overladen boat packed with migrants heading for Europe capsized in high winds off the Libyan coast, international and Libyan officials say
