New fleet of Gaza blockade-busters to sail in June: charity
ISTANBUL: A flotilla of 15 ships will sail in the last week of June, seeking to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip, a year after a deadly Israeli raid…
Saleh calls for early election as Yemenis protest
SANAA: Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh called on Friday for early elections in an apparent bid to stave off Gulf and Western pressure to leave office, as thousands rallied for…
NATO hits 8 Qaddafi ships as Obama predicts demise
TRIPOLI: NATO said on Friday its warplanes hit eight vessels of Moammer Qaddafi’s navy, after US President Barack Obama predicted the veteran Libyan strongman would "inevitably" leave or be forced…
Europe, developing world square off over IMF post
WASHINGTON: Battle lines were shaping up over the choice of a new leader for the International Monetary Fund on Friday as the Fund's board searched for a successor to Dominique…
Europe development bank eyes Arab expansion
ASTANA: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which for two decades has financed projects in ex-Soviet states, met Friday to discuss expanding its operations into North Africa. The…
Egypt cement maker sees rapid sector expansion
CAIRO: Egypt's cement sector will shake off a property crisis and expand production capacity by 30 percent by the end of 2012, helped by a growing population, infrastructure demand and…
Egypt seeks capital injection
To help offset a rising budget deficit — amid falling foreign investment resulting from recent political upheaval — Egypt is looking for international funding. The economic effects of events of…
Cairo Mediterranean Literary Festival kicks off
Since the beginning of 2011, Egypt has been shaken by a social and political tidal wave that has had a profound impact on its cultural environment. From street-side cafes to…
Buttered Up: Sunshine toast and patience learned
Here comes the jet lag and holding its hand that is the flavor of the week: lethargy — that which follows a long flight and a vacation to Cairo. I'll…
Analysts and political powers say Obama speech ‘futile’
CAIRO: The US will relieve “democratic Egypt” of up to $1 billion in debt and guarantee $1 billion in borrowing, US President Barack Obama promised in a speech Thursday. Local…