Beyond the referendum, and Tahrir – squared
By H.A. Hellyer CAIRO: The “yes” camp in last month’s referendum for constitutional reform, which was supposed to bring forward early parliamentary elections in Egypt, got 77 percent of the vote.…
Saif Qaddafi and me
By Dani Rodrik CAMBRIDGE: Not long ago, a Harvard colleague wrote to me that Saif Al-Islam El-Qaddafi, a son of Libya’s dictator, would be in town and wanted to meet me.…
Nigerian democracy grows up
By Ike Okonta ABUJA: Nigeria’s legislative elections, to be followed by a presidential poll on April 16, indicate that the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has lost its near-total grip on…
A Roma roadmap
By Heather Grabbe and Kori Udovicki BRUSSELS: The European Union, at long last, is taking a significant step to improve the lives of Europe’s millions of Roma. Rather than proposing a…
World powers rally behind Libya rebels
DOHA: World powers rallied behind Libyan rebels as they guested a global stage for a first time Wednesday, with Italy and Qatar saying they need arms to defend themselves and…
Stock market gains on Mubarak detention order
CAIRO: Egypt's main share index, EGX30, ended a four-day losing streak to close 1.9 percent higher on optimism the detention of former President Hosni Mubarak in a graft probe will…
Oil above $122, market monitors Libya conflict
LONDON: Oil bounced back above $122 on Wednesday, partly reversing a deep sell-off, as talks on Libya opened up divisions among foreign powers seeking a solution to violence that has…
Misr Cement Qena Q1 profit falls 11 pct
CAIRO: Egypt's Misr Cement Qena posted an 11 percent drop in 2011 first quarter net profit to LE 103.7 million ($17 million), the stock exchange said on Wednesday. The firm…
Independent federation skeptical of government-organized labor workshop
CAIRO: The Federation of Independent Unions said Tuesday that it “has strong reservations” about the workshops organized by the Ministry of Finance, that invited the International Labor Organization (ILO) to…
Big businesses capitalizing on big data
BARCELONA: What exists in more abundance nowadays than information? Some may argue that today’s society suffers from information overload, simply more out there than can possibly be absorbed and processed…