No image available
/ 21 May 2008

Rival Lebanese sign deal to end crisis

Rival Lebanese leaders signed a deal on Wednesday to end 18 months of political conflict that had pushed their country to the brink of a new civil war. The deal, concluded after six days of Arab-mediated talks in Qatar, paved the way for parliament to elect army chief General Michel Suleiman as president, filling a post vacant since November because of the political deadlock.

No image available
/ 23 January 2008

Goosen targets repeat win in Doha

Retief Goosen is hoping to become the first golfer to win the European Tour’s Qatar Masters on two occasions when the 11th edition of the ,5-million event gets under way on Thursday at the picturesque Doha Golf Club. The South African responded with a confident ”You mean not yet” when told that no player has won the tournament twice since its inception.

No image available
/ 2 January 2008

Davydenko fights to restore reputation

Nikolay Davydenko, the world number four from Russia who remains at the centre of an investigation into a betting scandal, on Tuesday described his treatment by the Association of Tennis Professionals as ”idiotic”. Davydenko recently had a fine, for allegedly not trying at the St Petersburg Open, overturned.

No image available
/ 3 December 2007

Wary Persian Gulf leaders host Ahmadinejad

Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council, wary of the repercussions of Iran’s nuclear programme, opened a two-day summit on Monday at which they were joined by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He was the first Iranian president to attend the gathering of the neighbouring bloc of wealthy Gulf Arab oil producers.

No image available
/ 9 April 2007

‘World not ready for a gas Opec’

Egyptian Energy Minister Sameh Fahmi said on Sunday that forming an Opec-like gas cartel was not a good idea as the world is not prepared to have a new energy organisation. ”It’s not a good idea at this stage,” Fahmi said when asked about the idea of forming a cartel for the gas-producing and -exporting countries.

No image available
/ 28 January 2007

The Goose soars in Qatar

South African Retief Goosen won the ,2-million Qatar Masters with a one-stroke victory over Australian Nick O’Hern on Sunday. The South African, aiming for his first win in more than a year after a disappointing 2006, held his nerve on the final hole to curl in an eagle to finish the tournament on 15-under-par 273.

No image available
/ 26 January 2007

Goosen continues to impress in Doha

Retief Goosen continued to impress at the ,2-million Qatar Masters with a second-round four-under-par 68 at the Doha Golf Club on Friday. The South African, who teed off in the morning with a one-shot lead after the first round, is in the comfort zone, his 11-under-par aggregate of 133 giving him a share of the lead with Australian Richard Green.