Egypt’s central bank extends grace period for retail loans
The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) will allow local banks to extend the period after which retail loans are classified as non-performing loans to 90 days versus the previous grace…
Fatah, Hamas agree to form interim government: Egypt
CAIRO: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement hammered an agreement with the rival Hamas group on Wednesday on forming an interim government and fixing a date for general election, Egyptian…
Jordan confirms Egypt gas cut after attack
AMMAN: Jordan on Wednesday confirmed that Egyptian gas supplies to the kingdom came to a stop after unknown saboteurs bombed a pipeline in Sinai. "Egypt's gas supplies have been halted…
Bedouins form two political parties
CAIRO: Bedouin tribes formed two political parties called the Arab Party for Justice and Equality and the Egyptian-Arab Unity Party aimed at engaging Bedouins in political life and promoting citizenship.…
Europe’s test in North Africa
By Peter Sutherland LONDON: Europe’s reaction to the historic revolutions in North Africa has vacillated between exhilaration and fear. The natural instinct to celebrate and support democratization across the Mediterranean has…
The G-20’s empty gestures
By Martin Feldstein CAMBRIDGE: The world’s 20 most important finance ministers and 20 most important central bankers traveled to Washington this month from every part of the globe to accomplish, predictably,…
The Palestinian secret that mainstream media doesn’t cover
By Natalia Simanovsky TEL AVIV: With all eyes on the upcoming United Nations General Assembly meeting in September when 191 UN member states will vote on whether or not to recognize…
Tying a Windsor: Plus ca change, plus ce la meme chose
By Philip Whitfield CAIRO: Two billion will be glued to the goggle box on Friday watching Prince William Arthur Philip Louis of Wales and his fiancée Catherine Elizabeth Middleton ‘getting spliced’…
Facebook fans bankroll ‘risque’ Bollywood film
As Indian director Onir applied the final touches to his new movie "I Am," he paused to pay tribute to the 400 people who responded to his Facebook campaign to…
Iraq culture chief, top cop escape assassination
Iraq's top theater and film official narrowly escaped assassination on Wednesday when a magnetic "sticky bomb" affixed to his car detonated shortly after he parked it, he told AFP. The…