Industries Qatar in focus, markets seen flat
DOHA: Industries Qatar will be in focus on Thursday after its second-quarter results beat analysts' forecasts. The Gulf's second-largest chemical producer by market value made a second-quarter net profit of…
Bahrain banking outlook remains negative
MANAMA: The outlook for Bahrain's banking system remains negative as more losses loom mainly due to exposure to local and regional real estate, rating agency Moody's said on Thursday. The…
Trading in Kuwait’s Agility halted on media report
KUWAIT: Trading in Kuwait's logistics firm Agility was halted on Thursday on a media report that U.S. prosecutors were going to drop fraud charges against it. The bourse did not…
UAE aims to increase oil output capacity by 2018
DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates aims to increase its oil production capacity to 3.5 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2018 from 2.7 million bpd now, said a government report…
No war likely on Lebanon-Israel border for now, analysts
BEIRUT: An escalation along the Lebanese-Israeli border is unlikely despite this week's deadly clashes as all parties, including Hezbollah, appear keen on containing the situation, at least for now, analysts…
Saudi population 27.137 million, over 30 percent expats
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's population has reached 27.137 million, more than 30 percent of them expatriates, according to preliminary results of the oil-rich kingdom's 2010 census. The official Saudi Press Agency…
OT says Algeria hasn’t frozen Djezzy accounts
Orascom Telecom said the Algerian central bank has not frozen its local unit Djezzy's accounts but it was prohibited from transferring money outside of the country. The largest Arab mobile…
Rattled Saudi parents support BlackBerry ban, report
RIYADH: While many Saudis are unhappy that the kingdom is to block BlackBerry services, a large number support the ban because they say smart phones are negatively influencing the youth,…
Libya wants huge compensation from South Korea, Reports
SEOUL: Libya has demanded economic benefits worth one billion dollars from South Korea in return for settling a diplomatic row sparked by spying accusations against Seoul, reports said Thursday. It…
Iran defiant in nuclear documents
VIENNA: As Iran and world powers prepare for new nuclear talks, letters by Tehran's envoys to top international officials and shared with The Associated Press suggest major progress is unlikely,…