Tunisian president sacks interior minister
By AFP TUNIS: Tunisia's interim President Foued Mebazza on Monday fired Interior Minister Farhat Rajhi, the official news agency TAP reported without explanation. "At the suggestion of Prime Minister Beji…
Arcade Fire win best album at Canada’s Junos
Canadian indie band Arcade Fire followed their huge victories at the Grammys and Brit awards by capturing four Juno awards including album of the year for "The Suburbs" and group…
France’s star philosopher shines for Libyan cause
With his open shirt and flowing dark mane, France's most infamous public intellectual has adopted the cause of Libyan freedom, taking an outsized role in French foreign affairs in the…
Crises raise Mideast cash inflow: HSBC Swiss bank
GENEVA: Crisis and revolution in Middle Eastern and North African countries have increased the amount of money flowing into private client accounts this year, Geneva-based HSBC Private Bank (Suisse)…
EADS unit Cassidian eyes new markets for growth
MUNICH: The military arm of European aerospace and defense group EADS will increase investment in the fast-growing markets of India, Brazil and the Middle East to make up for lagging…
OCI to seek out fertilizer plant projects
CAIRO: Egypt's Orascom Construction Industries (OCI) said on Monday it had agreed to form a partnership with Italy's Maire Tecnimont to investigate possible fertilizer plant projects in sub-Saharan Africa. "The…
Wel3a Cafe: Not your typical shisha
At a time when many businesses are having to downsize and are concerned about attracting customers, others are finding it the right time to set up shop. Such is the…
Orascom Tel says to raise $2.4 bln
CAIRO: Egypt's Orascom Telecom said on Monday it was seeking to raise its capital to LE 14 billion ($2.35 billion) from LE 7.5 billion and that it planned to divide…
Understanding Japan’s disasters
NEWPORT BEACH: As we all struggle to comprehend the economic and financial impact of Japan’s calamity, it is tempting to seek historical analogies for guidance. Indeed, many have been quick…
Egypt to raise threshold for taxable housing units
CAIRO: Egypt is due to amend the controversial real estate tax law and delay its enactment, the finance minister told a state-run daily. The ministry may postpone the enactment of…