Egypt GDP seen growing slightly faster this year
CAIRO: Egypt's economy is seen growing slightly faster this fiscal year than previously thought and should outpace most economies in the Gulf region thanks largely to rising consumption and foreign…
US, European diplomats strive to save Mideast peace talks
JERUSALEM: US envoy George Mitchell and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton converged on Israel and the Palestinian territories Thursday in a bid to rescue peace talks on the verge…
Regional Football World Cup coverage jammed from Jordan, says report
LONDON: Coverage of this year's World Cup football finals in South Africa by the Al-Jazeera satellite television was jammed from Jordan, Britain's Guardian newspaper reported in its Thursday edition. "Mysterious…
Oil rises to near $77 on unexpected US supply fall
SINGAPORE: Oil prices rose to near $77 a barrel Wednesday in Asia after a report showed US crude supplies dropped last week, suggesting demand may be improving. Benchmark crude for…
Etisalat bids to buy 46 pct in Kuwait’s Zain, says TV
DUBAI: Emirates Telecommunications Corp (Etisalat) has offered to buy 46 percent of Kuwait's Zain, CNBC Arabiya said on Wednesday, in a deal that would be worth $11.8 billion. Etisalat had…
EU imposes new duties on Iran, Pakistan, UAE plastics
BRUSSELS: The European Union imposed new duties on plastics from Iran, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, saying the three were illegally subsidizing exports to Europe's growing soft-drinks…
Burma’s democratic charade
PRAGUE: On Nov. 7, when Burma’s first general election for almost two decades is to be held, a well-rehearsed script will play out. The country’s ruling generals will twist what…
Mohammed Arkoun: a farewell to an intellectual revolutionary
WASHINGTON, DC: That he welcomed two complete strangers knocking on his door on a rainy Parisian summer day is yet one more testimonial to the late Professor Mohammed Arkoun’s kindness…
DR Congo massacres report first step to ending impunity
GENEVA: The UN releases a hotly-contested report Friday on massacres in eastern Congo, including a possible genocide by Rwandan troops, which its top rights officer hopes will end a culture…
Lebanese bloggers: pioneers in the Arab world
BEIRUT: A recent survey of readers of the more than 400 blogs in Lebanon shows that their numbers are close to the online readership of the most well-known Lebanese newspapers:…