The Middle East articles from March 2006

The Middle East archives from March 2006

Comment.
March 1, 2006... The furore which swept through cities across the world following the publication, initially in Denmark and later further afield, of a series of cartoons deemed "offensive" to Muslims, was predictable. The scenes of outraged Muslims waving...

A new chapter begins: Fatah is held accountable and Hamas reaps the benefits. Mariam Shahin reports from the West Bank on the results of the Palestinian elections and the politicians to watch as a new era is ushered in.(Cover Story)
March 1, 2006... OVER ONE MILLION PALESTINIANS WENT TO THE POLLS ON 25 January and changed the course of history. By overwhelmingly voting in favour of an Islamist list of candidates they ushered in a new era. With 77% of eligible voters casting their ballots,...

After Hamas victory, now Israelis go to the polls ...(CURRENT AFFAIRS)
March 1, 2006... The victory by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the Palestinian elections has presented the world (or more precisely America, Europe, the UN, Israel and Egypt) with Pontius Pilate's age old political dilemma: should we do what appears...

A crumbling coalition: despite the rhetoric from Washington, which attempts to persuade the international community things are improving, US allies are peeling away as the crisis in Iraq deepens.(CURRENT AFFAIRS)
March 1, 2006... THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION to cut the number of American troops in Iraq, seeking to reduce casualties in advance of this year's mid-term congressional elections, and push the Iraqis into taking primary responsibility for fighting the...

Iran takes on us but at what cost?(CURRENT AFFAIRS)
March 1, 2006... While Iran's nuclear aims are the accepted mainstream reason for the US's aggressive stance towards Tehran, these nuclear ambitions are not new, Speculation is increasing that the Iranian decision mighty US dollar from all its future oil...

In the eye of the beholder.(AFGHANISTAN)
March 1, 2006... THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT 3,300 British soldiers were to be deployed to one of the most violent and unruly parts of Afghanistan coincided with the death in February of the 100th British soldier in Iraq. UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, accused by...

Bird flu threat causes mounting concern: the countries of the Middle East are on red alert for any evidence of avian flu. However, as Richard Seymour discovered, the scale of the problem is difficult to assess and will remain so, unless certain regional precautionary measures are introduced soon.(CURRENT AFFAIRS)
March 1, 2006... AVIAN FLU IS NOW NO LONGER A blight affecting only the rural areas of Southeast Asia with their overcrowded poultry markets and chickens roaming free in backyards. Every nation west of countries such as Turkey, China, Indonesia, Thailand,...

Get the windfalls into circulation, IMF urges: despite record oil income, Arab economies are growing far slower than those of the oil-dependent Asian tigers. The IMF and other international development agencies warn that this growth "gap" will widen sharply unless governments undertake major infrastructure investment and fundamental social reform.(BUSINESS & FINANCE)
March 1, 2006... IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER, WHILE the Arab world seethed in anger over anti-Muslim cartoons published in a Danish newspaper, few turned a critical eye on the very real economic dangers which confront Muslims living in the oil states of the Middle...

Islamic fund for China real estate market.
March 1, 2006... Bahrain-based commercial and investment bank, Shamil Bank, has launched the first Islamic property fund for investment in the Chinese real estate market, valued at $100m, in a joint venture with Chinese state-owned CITIC Group. The fund will...

Algiers to have metro line.
March 1, 2006... Algiers is to build its first metro line in a $456m, 38-month project. The first section of the 9km line will run mainly underground and will have 10 stops. Extensions are already being planned. The metro will be built by a consortium led...

Tehran puts the cat among the pigeons.
March 1, 2006... IRAN'S MULTIBILLION DOLLAR GAS deals with India should survive Delhi's decision to vote to refer the Iranian nuclear question to the United Nations (UN) Security Council. It had been expected Delhi would vote against the International Atomic...

Energy becomes an EU election issue.(BUSINESS & FINANCE)
March 1, 2006... THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU) WILL outline its new thinking on energy security this month, following the scare in January when Russian gas supplies to a host of East European countries, as well as Germany, France and Italy, were temporarily cut off....

Serving the super rich.(BUSINESS & FINANCE)
March 1, 2006... In the first of six reports, Moin Siddiqi look into the foreign portfolio investments of Arab official, institutional and private investors. The 'super-rich' Arabs and public sector investment agencies over the decades have become...

Foiling the fakers: reports claim the Middle East region is one of the world's hotspots when it comes to counterfeit US currency. Stephen Williams looks at the evidence.(BUSINESS & FINANCE)
March 1, 2006... THIS MONTH, THE UNITED STATES Federal Reserve will put the new-design $10 note into circulation, the final note to be issued in a series of changes to US paper currency. It completes a process that the organisation began a decade ago in the...

Oil and gas: the sky's the limit: analyst Neil Ford looks at the oil market which appears set to soar, as higher than anticipated world demand shows no signs of abating.(OIL & GAS SPECIAL REPORT)
March 1, 2006... RECORD GLOBAL DEMAND FOR OIL along with changes to the power sector generation mix around the world, are providing a host of opportunities for investors in the Middle East and North African oil sector. Oil production in the region is expected...

Iran Khodro plans to send 3,000 cars to Russia.
March 1, 2006... Iranian car manufacturing company, Iran Khodro, plans to export in excess of 3,000 vehicles to Russia in the current year, according to Alireza Mirzaie, deputy director for exports and international affairs. The company, which sold 200 cars in...

Mobily gains 2m customers in 6 months.
March 1, 2006... Mobile phone operator Mobily has established a market share of more than 20% and a customer base of 2m less than six months after entering the Saudi Arabian market. The company puts its success in the 24m-people kingdom down to an experienced...

NBK announces record profits.(National Bank of Kuwait )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) has announced another record net profit of $704m for 2005, up 37% from last year. Reported earnings do not include unrealised profits of $123m that were attributed to strategic long-term investments. NBK's...

Saudia Arabia builds $27bn city.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2006... Work is in progress on the $27bn King Abdullah Economic City north of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The mixed-used development is the single largest private sector investment in the kingdom. The city will comprise six components: a modern seaport,...

The oil of life.(MOSAIC)
March 1, 2006... EVERYONE KNOWS THE POLITICS OF oil is crucial to life in the Middle East. In one corner of the region, however, "oil politics" has another connotation altogether. To Saudis, Kuwaitis, Iraqis, Omanis, Algerians and Libyans, oil means the...

A voice for freedom: an Algerian singer-songwriter is creating an international sensation. Although she rarely signs in English, she has won hearts worldwide--for Souad Massi is not only blessed with a golden voice but quite remarkable courage. Stephen Williams profiles this extraordinary artist.(MOSAIC)
March 1, 2006... WHEN SHE SINGS IN ARABIC, with all the rare sweetness that is her hallmark. Souad Massi creates a double effect. Not only has she the wonderful knack of transcending linguistic barriers, she is able to move an audience literally to tears with...

Egyptian inspirations: celebrating 50 years of creative weaving, an exhibition at the Brunei Centre in London presents a rare opportunity to see a dazzling collection of tapestries from one of the world's greatest schools of weaving, Egypt's ground-breaking Ramses Wissa Wassef Art Centre in Harrania.(MOSAIC)
March 1, 2006... TAPESTRIES PRODUCED BY weavers of the Ramses Wissa Wassef Art Centre have been highly sought after by international museums across the world. Those fortunate enough to acquire examples include The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, The...

The Modern Middle East.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
March 1, 2006... THE MODERN MIDDLE EAST By Ilan Pappe published bv Routledge ISBN 041 521409 2 price 16.99 [pounds sterling] paperback In this expansive survey of Middle Eastern history over the last century, Ilan Pappe questions modernisation as the best...

The Secret History of Al-Qa'ida.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
March 1, 2006... THE SECRET HISTORY OF AL'QA'IDA By Abdel Bari Atwan published by Saqi Books ISBN 0 86356 760 6 price 16.99 [pounds sterling] hardback Over the last 10 years, journalist and Al Qaeda expert Abdel Bari Atwan has amassed a wealth of...

Gate of the Sun.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
March 1, 2006... GATE OF THE SUN By Elias Khoury published by Harvill Secker ISBN 1 8434 3103 3 price 17.99 [pounds sterling] hardback In a makeshift hospital in a refugee camp on the outskirts of Beirut, Yunis, an ageing Palestinian freedom fighter, lies...

A Quest in the Middle East: Gertrude Bell and the Making of Modern Iraq.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
March 1, 2006... A QUEST IN THE MIDDLE EAST GERTRUDE BELL AND THE MAKING OF MODERN IRAQ By Liora Lukitz published by IB TAURIS ISBN 1 85043 415 8 price 24.50 [pounds sterling] hardback Revered or reviled, Gertrude Bell was a commanding figure: scholar,...

The View from the Fence.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
March 1, 2006... THE VIEW FROM THE FENCE By Neill Lochery published by Continuum ISBN 0 8264 8679 7 price 14.99 [pounds sterling] hardback The Arab-Israeli conflict has for too long been seen as a simple tale of right versus wrong, good versus evil or,...

Eagle's Nest: Ismaili Castles in Iran and Syria.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
March 1, 2006... EAGLE'S NEST ISMAILI CASTLES IN IRAN AND SYRIA By Peter Willey published by IB TAURIS ISBNI 85043 464 6 price 25.00 [pounds sterling] hardback Magnificent castles and fortresses in remote, mountainous regions were built for refuge by the...

Win some, lose some ...(protection of historic building in England and arab-Israeli conflicts)
March 1, 2006... IN THE ROAD WHERE I LIVE THERE IS A RATHER BEAUTIFUL, if somewhat dilapidated old house, built over a hundred years ago, when Queen Victoria was on the throne of England. Some time ago a property developer offered the elderly couple who lived...