Tens of thousands of Tahrir protesters demand swift justice in ‘Second Friday of Anger’
By Tamim Elyan CAIRO: Despite a boycott by the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist groups, tens of thousands of protestors gathered Friday in Tahrir Square demanding fast public trials of ousted…
EU seeks new approach of accountability, partnership
CAIRO: The European Union is looking into a “new approach” to its relations with its neighbors, based on accountability, partnership not imposition, with funding that would match the speed of…
Egypt, Tunisia finding that road to freedom is rocky
By Jailan Zayan /AFP CAIRO: After successfully dislodging decades-old autocracies, pro-democracy activists in Egypt and Tunisia are striving to protect their hard-won gains through fragile transitions dotted with setbacks. It took…
Harvest season, import difficulties led to diesel crisis, says industry insider
CAIRO: The harvest season and the difficulty in importing diesel from Libya and Iraq are the two main reasons that led to the recent diesel shortage, said an official in…
EU energy chief signs agreement on Iraqi gas export
BRUSSELS: The European Union's energy chief has signed an agreement with Iraq to work together on developing Iraqi energy resources, including gas exports to Europe, the EU's executive said on…
Paris to Tehran on a litre of petrol at ‘green’ car rally
KLETTWITZ: It's a motor rally with a difference: souped-up "green" vehicles going head to head in an international eco-marathon to see who runs the longest on as little energy as…
Oil pares gains after US home sales data
LONDON: Oil pared gains on Friday as weaker-than-expected US pending home sales data for April triggered fresh concerns about the pace of recovery by the world's largest energy consumer and…
Reform to cost $25 bln over 5 years, says Tunisia finance min
DEAUVILLE: Tunisia's plans for a range of reforms will cost in the region of $25 billion over the next five years, Finance Minister Jalloul Ayed said on Friday. He was…
Islamic Development Bank to increase sukuk program
JEDDAH: The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) plans to increase its $3.5 billion sukuk program to as much as $8 billion and issue a sukuk bond worth $600 million by year…
IMF ready to lend $35 bn to needy Arab countries
DEAUVILLE: The International Monetary Fund on Thursday said it was prepared to lend about $35 billion to oil importing countries in the Middle East and North Africa region. But that…