The cost of America’s free lunch
By Daniel Gros BRUSSELS: For decades, the world has complained that the dollar’s role as global reserve currency has given the United States, in a term usually attributed to Charles de…
Russia’s lost opportunity with Japan
By Yuriko Koike TOKYO: President Dmitri A. Medvedev visit to the south Kuril Islands, which the Soviet Red Army seized from Japan in the closing days of World War II, has…
Blogger once detained without charge fired for absence from work
By Sarah Carr CAIRO: A blogger detained for almost two years before being released without charge has been dismissed from his teaching position, an NGO said on Thursday. The Qena Directorate…
HSBC Islamic arm eyes 125 branches by 2012
DUBAI: HSBC Amanah, the Islamic arm of bank HSBC, plans to have 125 branches throughout the Middle East and Asia by the end of 2012 eyeing rapid growth in the…
Egypt, Tunisia, Libya set sights on gas development
VIENNA: Egypt, Tunisia and Libya are setting their sights on boosting natural gas output both to satisfy growing domestic demand and to sell to Europe, industry experts said here Wednesday.…
Egypt fears refugee exodus if south Sudan opts to break away
CAIRO: Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit expressed fear on Wednesday that a referendum on independence for south Sudan scheduled for January could spark violence and an exodus of refugees.…
Greece parcel bomb plot underlines youth anger
ATHENS: A parcel bomb plot targeting foreign governments underlines the emergence of extremism in Greece, fuelled by young people bearing the brunt its deep economic malaise, observers say. The prime…
Western pressure on Yemen could backfire
DUBAI: Mounting Western pressure on Yemen to intensify its campaign against Al-Qaeda could backfire in a country already weakened by internal conflicts and poverty and with a suspicious populace, analysts…
Iranians stage mass protest against ‘Great Satan’ US
TEHRAN: Thousands of Iranians chanted "Death to America" as they staged Thursday a mass protest against the "Great Satan" to mark the 31st anniversary of the capture of the American…
Review: iPhone-controlled drone fun but expensive
By Michael Felberbaum/ AP RICHMOND: You can pretty much do anything with your iPhone these days — control your digital video recorder from afar, unlock your car and now, fly a…