US criticizes ‘unbalanced’ probe into Gaza flotilla raid
GENEVA: The United States on Tuesday criticized a UN probe into Israel's storming of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, urging the Human Rights Council to prevent the report from being used…
Iran to press for recognition of ‘nuclear rights’ in talks
TEHRAN: Iran will press to have its "nuclear rights" recognized in talks with world powers who accuse Tehran of seeking atomic weapons, a foreign ministry spokesman told reporters on Tuesday.…
US soldier held in slayings of 2 GIs in Iraq
BAGHDAD: An American serviceman is being held in Iraq in connection with the fatal shootings of two soldiers and the wounding of another following an apparent argument, the U.S. military…
US envoy to Mideast as Abbas demands settlement halt
JERUSALEM: US envoy George Mitchell headed to the Middle East on Tuesday to try to rescue peace talks as Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas demanded the renewal of a moratorium on…
Construction slowdown hits Bahrain Tabreed
ABU DHABI: District cooling firm Tabreed's Bahrain unit sees a bleak short-term outlook due to a collapsing construction market even as its first permanent cooling plant starts this week, an…
Food prices drive Kuwait July inflation up to 4 pct
KUWAIT: Kuwait inflation rose to a 13-month high of 4.0 percent year-on-year in July, driven by rises in food and global commodities prices. Inflation in the world's fourth largest oil…
Gulf price pressures down, not gone, says Kuwait c. banker
KUWAIT: Inflationary pressures in Gulf Arab countries have decreased significantly, but they must pay attention to rising global food prices, Kuwait's central bank governor said on Tuesday. Inflation in the…
Emaar postpones board meeting to Wednesday, says bourse
DUBAI: Emaar Properties, builder of the world's tallest tower in Dubai, postponed its board meeting to Sept. 29, a statement on the bourse website said on Tuesday. The meeting, which…
Nakheel plans $1.6 bln bond, part of debt plan
DUBAI: Property developer Nakheel plans to issue a 6 billion dirham ($1.63 billion) Islamic bond as part of its debt repayment plan as it restarts several key projects, an industry…
Western, Mideast airlines step up interest in Africa
PARIS: Western and Middle Eastern airlines are planning a pronounced push into Africa, adding routes and boosting passenger capacity to take advantage of a region where air traffic is set…