Firm foundations in Oman
MUSCAT: Oman's growing industrial sector is set to benefit from a number of infrastructure projects designed to enhance capacity in the Sultanate. Significant projects are under way to improve logistics,…
Dutch won’t underestimate Uruguay in World Cup
DURBAN, South Africa: Having beaten World Cup favorite Brazil in the quarterfinals, Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk has warned his players not to take the less illustrious South Americans of…
Mad or magical, 17-club Abreu aims for history
JOHANNESBURG: Some may consider him mad, but wild-haired Uruguay striker Sebastian Abreu believes he is touched by magic. The 33-year-old nomad, a veteran of 17 clubs in seven different countries,…
Villa eyes Golden boot, Klose Ronaldo’s record
PARIS: Lionel Messi, Kaka and Wayne Rooney left their World Cup shooting boots at home, but David Villa and Miroslav Klose are on a hot streak of goal scoring form…
German World cup patriotism still touchy issue
BERLIN: Youssef Bassal's heart swelled with pride when he draped an enormous German flag on the building where he runs a cell phone store in support of the World Cup…
Mubarak visits Algerian president in a sign of improving ties
ALGIERS: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak made a short "courtesy" visit on Sunday to Algeria's leader, who is mourning the death of his brother, in a sign of improving ties between…
South African pilgrims bring vuvuzelas to pray
EBUHLENI MISSION, South Africa: Barefoot and dressed in white, thousands of pilgrims gather on a hilltop overlooking Durban blowing on long metal "imbomu" tubes, forerunner of the vuvuzela. Every year,…
Netanyahu aides in Cairo for talks
JERUSALEM: Two senior aides of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to Cairo on Sunday for talks with Egypt's intelligence chief, media reported. National security adviser Uzi Arad and Yitzhak…
Beltone, Pioneers merger scrapped
CAIRO: A $62 million acquisition by Egypt's Pioneers Holding of investment bank Beltone Financial has been scrapped after the two sides failed to agree on a strategy for the merged…
Stock index ends down, Pioneers pummeled
CAIRO: Pioneers Holdings plunged 7.7 percent, pounded by investors disappointed with the news that its plans to acquire investment bank Beltone Financial had collapsed. The merger with Beltone had been…
