US President George Bush’s new strategy to send thousands of extra troops to Iraq was met with harsh scepticism across the Middle East today where many predicted that even with more soldiers, America would fail at breaking the cycle of violence.

Dragon Oil’s workover programme at the LAM21/107 well off the coast of Turkmenistan is continuing, resulting in an incremental production gain of 626 barrels per day.

Hollywood hunk Orlando Bloom allegedly spent an evening canoodling with a mystery blonde in Dubai, United Arab Emirates - despite dating movie beauty Kate Bosworth.

Paul McGinley, seeking his first win since he holed the winning putt in the Ryder Cup two years ago, chipped in at the last to regain a share of the lead with a round to go in the Dubai Desert Classic.