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…
Syrian forces fire on rally, world pressure grows
AMMAN: Syrian forces fired at protesters calling for the "overthrow of the regime" in an eastern city on Friday, residents said, and world leaders voiced outrage at President Bashar Al-Assad's…
Obama says West will finish Libya fight, as Misrata mined
TRIPOLI: The United States and France are united in their resolve to finish the job in Libya, US President Barack Obama said Friday as NATO reported that Moamer Qaddafi's forces…
Yemeni tribal rebels take over military camp
SANAA: Fighting that rocked Sanaa for the past five days spread beyond the capital on Friday as Yemeni tribesmen opposed to the rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh seized a…
Buttered Up: Finding Comfort in Sweet Potato Fries
It's still a little depressing to know that people are not book hoarders, nor do they wistfully sigh at the sight of a random bookstore, dusty or new, located anywhere.…
Rafah opening boosts Hamas as Egypt adjusts
CAIRO: Egypt's decision to permanently open its border crossing with Hamas-ruled Gaza starting on Saturday signals an adjustment in its foreign policy that will boost the group despite Israeli objections.…
E-Book report: Nook is up, iPad still catching up
As the publishing industry wrapped up four days of digital talk at its annual national convention, Amazon.com's Kindle was seen as the clear, if not dominant, player in the growing…
Ai Weiwei work on show at key Hong Kong art fair
A leading international art fair is to display a provocative work by detained Chinese artist Ai Weiwei in Hong Kong in a show of solidarity with the outspoken dissident amid…