WASHINGTON- Two senior White House aides knew weeks ago that a probe of the Internal Revenue Service had found that the U.S. tax agency had inappropriately targeted conservative groups, but did not tell President Barack Obama, a White House spokesman said on Monday.
*Liaising with UAE authorities, seeking quick resolution. DUBAI, May 21- Arabtec, Dubai's largest construction firm, said on Tuesday the delivery of projects was unaffected by what it called a partial labour stoppage, adding it was working with authorities in the United Arab Emirates to resolve the issue.
May 20- The final countdown is under way to the maiden flight of the Airbus A350, Europe's answer to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. *First, engineers at Airbus headquarters near Toulouse in southern France will turn on the Auxiliary Power Unit, a small turbine engine under the tail, used for power on the ground.
NEW DELHI- India and China will study new ways to ease tensions along their ill-defined border, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Monday in his first foreign trip since taking office, which comes just weeks after a military stand-off between the Asian giants in the Himalayas.
DUBLIN, May 20- Elan announced its second major drug deal inside a week on Monday and said it would buy back more shares as it continues to bat against a $5.7 billion takeover bid from U.S. investor Royalty Pharma.
*U.N. says Syria conflict a humanitarian catastrophe. LONDON, May 17- Syria has managed to increase its grain imports in recent months after a period when it was less active on international markets, traders say, a development that suggests President Bashar al-Assad has found a way to feed his people despite war.
SINGAPORE, May 17- London copper futures edged lower on Friday to remain on course to end a three-week upward streak, undermined by a firmer dollar and indications that demand from top consumer China is unlikely to pick up strongly as Beijing shuns stimulus measures.
SINGAPORE, May 16- Singapore Airlines Ltd reported weaker-than-expected full-year results and warned of a deteriorating environment as it struggles to cope with the rapid emergence of Gulf carriers and low cost Asian rivals.
NEW YORK, May 15- Qatar Airways' top executive said the Middle Eastern carrier wants to be a launch customer for Boeing Co's forthcoming 777 X mini-jumbo jet, and that the airline plans to open at least three new routes to the United States in the next 12 to 18 months. "
CAIRO, May 15- Egypt said on Wednesday it had settled disputes with the Dubai- based developer DAMAC involving projects dating back to the Mubarak era- an agreement the government hopes will reassure prospective investors.
NEW YORK, May 15- Qatar Airways' top executive said the Middle-Eastern carrier wants to be a launch customer for Boeing Co's forthcoming 777 X mini-jumbo jet, and that the airline plans to open at least three new routes to the U.S. in the next 12 to 18 months. "
*Turkey's monetary policy mix is unusually intricate. DUBAI, May 15- When Turkey's central bank cut interest rates last month, its decision aroused a mixture of approval, criticism and sheer confusion about exactly what the decision aimed to achieve.
DUBAI, May 15- A drive for tighter regulation of Saudi Arabia's stock market may help to break the hold of short-term speculators on share prices, making the market more attractive to local and foreign institutional investors.
KUWAIT, May 15- A ruling by Kuwait's top court next month could end a period of relative political stability, jeopardising government plans to push ahead with long-delayed economic projects.
Two contestants are from civil war-ravaged Syria, including a singer-composer whose bus was ambushed by gunmen en route to her audition and a music student who brought judges to tears with a song lamenting the devastation of his hometown of Aleppo.