Egypt inflation edges up, rates seen steady for now
CAIRO: Egyptian urban inflation inched higher in the year to December, but the pace of increase is unlikely to prompt the central bank to raise interest rates this month to…
Saudi bourse moving closer to foreign access, says document
DUBAI: Saudi Arabia's stock market committee is moving closer to allowing foreign investors direct market access, a document seen by Reuters showed. At a Dec. 21 meeting bourse officials asked…
Asset-backed sukuk framework seen lifting demand
DUBAI: A master agreement for asset-backed Islamic bonds will help spur demand for securitized paper in the fast-growing industry, bankers and lawyers said. Islamic finance industry body IIFM is looking…
Algeria: Highs and lows in education
By Oxford Business Group This has been a historic year for the Algerian education sector, with a record percentage of students passing national exams and government initiatives expanding schooling subsidies.…
Iraqi bourse sees rise in foreign investors in 2011
BAGHDAD: War-torn Iraq is expected to attract more overseas investment this year after foreigners were net buyers on its stock exchange in 2010, snapping up $53 million worth of shares,…
2010 Chinese box office surges to $1.5 bln
Chinese box office takings surged 64 percent to 10.2 billion Chinese yuan ($1.5 billion) in 2010, although film officials say the figure still lags more developed markets and urged local…
Award-season contenders flock to Palm Springs gala
The road to Oscar brought a blast of expected contenders to this desert town some 100 miles east of Hollywood as the Palm Springs International Film Festival held its annual…
Children’s theater makes a comeback in Old Cairo
It is not always easy to produce theater work for children that is simultaneously interesting for adults. This is the thought that ran through my mind while sitting down to…
Peace, not process
By Daoud Kuttab RAMALLAH: The United States should stop pushing for the resumption of the Palestinian-Israeli peace process. Doing so might be the best way to achieve peace — a paradox…
The nature of Palestinian sovereignty
By Mkhaimar Abusada GAZA CITY: The Arab Peace Initiative, which was adopted by the Arab League at its summit meeting in Beirut in 2002, is a comprehensive peace initiative first proposed…