Twelve killed in Iraq as Shia pilgrimage ends
KARBALA: A series of attacks in Baghdad and a holy Iraqi city killed 12 people, while five others died in a helicopter crash, as major religious ceremonies came to a…
Abbas terms for direct talks ‘impossible’, says Israel minister
JERUSALEM: Israel on Wednesday accused Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas of imposing "impossible" conditions for moving to direct peace talks. "The Palestinians have set three impossible conditions: that the negotiations start…
Jordanian premier reshuffles cabinet
AMMAN: Jordanian Prime Minister Samir Rifai reshuffled his cabinet on Wednesday, dropping six ministers and replacing them with seven others, a senior official told AFP. The ministers of justice, education,…
Jordan trade unions slam Netanyahu’s visit
AMMAN: Jordan's Islamist-led trade unions on Wednesday strongly condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Jordan, describing him as a "criminal." "At a time when the Zionist enemy is…
Iran accuses US of paying opposition to topple regime
TEHRAN: Iran's electoral watchdog accused the United States of giving opposition leaders $1 billion to topple the Islamic regime and promising them another $50 billion, reports said Wednesday. The head…
Saudi cleric calls for Muslim maids only
RIYADH: A Saudi cleric said only Muslim housemaids should be allowed in the oil-rich country and they should be kept segregated from men in the home, an online news site…
Egypt gains, EFG sees possible rally
CAIRO: Egypt's benchmark index rose for a sixth day, with EFG-Hermes saying market conditions are ripe for a short-term rally. The index gained 0.5 percent to close at 6,226 points.…
Gazans want “Marshall Plan”, Israel policy falls short
GAZA: Wael El Wadiah's Gaza snack food factories once employed 250 people. Today, denied access to the West Bank market by Israel, he employs a few dozen workers in what…
Actis moves into payment card industry with MSCC buy-out
“We believe that e-payment will be the next big thing in Africa,” said Hossam Abou Moussa, investment principle at Actis, a private equity firm specializing in emerging markets. Actis announced…
Experts forecast steady performance for Egypt banks
“The Egyptian banking sector’s performance in mirrors the strong fundamentals and the vast liquidity of the sector, which has…allowed Egypt to safely navigate through the global turmoil,” Sherif Khalil, head…