Tensions heat up between Islamists, gov’t ahead of Egypt vote
By Mona Salem /AFP CAIRO: Tension is mounting between the Egyptian authorities and the opposition Muslim Brotherhood ahead of next week's legislative polls, with hundreds of Islamists having been rounded up…
Bulgaria opens way to start LNG talks with Qatar
By Irina Ivanova/ Reuters SOFIA: Bulgaria and Qatar have signed a confidentiality deal paving the way for talks on LNG deliveries from the Arab country, state gas company Bulgargaz said on…
Iraq 2011 budget proposal based on $73 oil, says official
BAGHDAD: Iraqi officials proposed a 2011 budget based on a $73-per-barrel oil price and exports of 2.3 million barrels a day, an oil ministry spokesman said on Sunday. The export…
Iran to issue bonds worth 5 billion euros
TEHRAN: Iran will issue bonds worth some 5 billion euros ($7 billion) to help finance development of its giant South Pars gas field, the semi-official Mehr news agency quoted a…
Axiom seeking $1 bln IPO via institutional offering
DUBAI: UAE handset retailer Axiom Telecom said on Sunday it expects to debut on Nasdaq Dubai in early December with a market value of up to $1 billion after selling…
Egypt hits out at US over religious freedom complaints
CAIRO: Egypt on Saturday angrily dismissed complaints from the United States concerning religious freedom in its key Middle East ally, saying that Washington has no right to hand down judgments.…
Rights group cautions Egypt on election harassment
By Paul Schemm /AP CAIRO: The London-based Amnesty International called on Egyptian authorities to refrain from harassing election candidates as hundreds of opposition members have been arrested and their marches dispersed.…
Gaza’s blockade silences voices of women
By Mary Robinson and Lakhdar Brahimi GAZA: We have just visited the Gaza Strip where we met many courageous people trying to live relatively normal lives despite the crippling effects of…
Asia After Obama
By Brahma Chellaney NEW DELHI: US President Barack Obama’s 10-day Asian tour and the consecutive summit meetings of the East Asian Summit (EAS), the G-20, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)…
Eastern Europe’s Tito option
By Andrew Wilson LONDON: Success stories in what the European Union calls “the neighborhood” have been hard to come by. First Georgia, then Ukraine, and most recently Moldova have all been…
