The government’s decision to back the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 earned it respect in the Middle East and it must not be scared of similar action in the future, Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Monday.

Palestinians and Israelis have held their first indirect talks in more than a year in a tentative boost to the Middle East peace process, which has been on hold since the Jewish state’s devastating war on Gaza.

A new Middle East peace mission hit a snag today even before US Vice President Joe Biden’s plane had landed in Tel Aviv, when Israel announced the construction of more than 100 new apartments in a West Bank settlement.

Britain’s decision to back the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 earned it respect in the Middle East and it must not be scared of similar action in the future, Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Monday.

A week after unveiling a plan to spin off its North Sea oil assets, Petrofac has pleased the market with forecast beating figures. The oil services company said profits had climbed 33% to £353.6m, helped by a record $6.3bn of new engineering and construction contracts, mainly from the Middle East and Turkmenistan. It said it expected to benefit from continuing investment by its customers in oil …

President Barack Obama dispatched his vice president to the Middle East on Sunday to try to build support for reviving Israeli-Palestinian peace talks despite deep scepticism on both sides.

Blackburn Rovers are seeking a new owner in the Middle East. The People says Rovers are looking for a potential buyer in the Middle East - with their bankers seeking an Arab version of former owner Jack Walker. Rovers have been ‘up for sale’ for the past couple of years and now Rothschilds have been in contact with a group in Dubai to test their interest in buying one of the Premier League ’s …

Crystal Palace FC supporters are being asked to help save the club from financial meltdown by sponsoring their match against Preston on Easter Monday.

It’s International Women’s Day today and Sky News will be marking the fact by turning the entire station over to women. “From sunrise to midnight, the news channel will be presented and produced exclusively by women,” it announced on Friday. All the presenters, producers and duty editors will be women, including those on Sky News, Sky News Radio, and Sky News Online. “Sky News is constantly …

Mar 8 (Reuters) - Webster Financial: Moody’s Investors Service downgraded the ratings of Webster Financial Corporation (senior debt to Baa1 from A3) and the ratings of its lead bank subsidiary, Webster Bank, N.A. (bank financial strength to C from C+; long- term deposits to A3 from A2; and short-term deposits to Prime-2 from Prime-1). Keywords: MARKETS RATINGS WEBSTERFINANCIAL