Did the poor cause the crisis?
By Simon Johnson WASHINGTON, DC: The United States continues to be riven by heated debate about the causes of the 2007-2009 financial crisis. Is government to blame for what went wrong,…
Life after capitalism
By Robert Skidelsky LONDON: In 1995, I published a book called “The World After Communism”. Today, I wonder whether there will be a world after capitalism. That question is not prompted…
Is Ahmadinejad now free to make a nuclear deal?
By Volker Perthes BERLIN: In Istanbul this week, representatives of Iran and the “5+1” group (the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany), led by European Union…
Blair defends actions in new Iraq inquiry grilling
LONDON: Tony Blair said Friday he was determined to do whatever it took to disarm Saddam Hussein despite legal concerns, as he returned for a second appearance at Britain's inquiry…
Gazans mob French minister in ‘war crimes’ mix-up
GAZA CITY: Angry Palestinians mobbed French Foreign Minister Michele Alliot-Marie as she visited Gaza on Friday in a mix-up over a "war crimes" quote mistakenly attributed to her. The foreign…
Lebanon rival parties set for fierce showdown
BEIRUT: Lebanon's rival parties on Friday appeared headed for a fierce showdown as each side hardened its position in the country's political crisis after the failure of foreign mediation efforts.…
Gbagbo orders UN vehicles searched in Ivory Coast
ABIDJAN: Ivory Coast's incumbent leader Laurent Gbagbo is ordering the military to stop and search UN vehicles, the latest escalation of hostilities between the man who refuses to leave office…
Family mourns Tunisian revolt’s first ‘martyr’
SIDI BOUZID: Mohammed Bouazizi climbed onto his fruit cart, doused himself with fuel and flicked on a lighter — a protest that set off Tunisia's revolution and has left his…
Iran in new nuclear wrangling with world powers
ISTANBUL: Six world powers began fresh talks with Iran Friday in a bid to resolve tensions over its controversial nuclear drive, but the United States warned against building up hopes…
Palestinian court forcibly divorces ‘apostates’
By Diaa Hadid and Mohammed Daraghem/ AP TULKAREM: For more than a year, a Palestinian couple belonging to an Islamic sect rejected by many mainstream Muslims endured insults from some of…